Apparatus for heating smoking material

Abstract

An apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material is disclosed. [Solution] The device 100 comprises an insulator 102 and a magnetic field generator 106, the insulator comprising an inner wall at least partially defining a heating zone for receiving at least a portion of an article including smoking material, the inner wall containing heating material that can be heated by the penetration of a varying magnetic field to heat the heating zone, an outer wall, and an insulated area bounded by the inner and outer walls, the insulated area being evacuated to a lower pressure than outside the insulated area, and the magnetic field generator is for generating a varying magnetic field that penetrates the inner wall to heat the inner wall during use.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for heating smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material, a system comprising such an apparatus and an article containing smoking material, and a method for heating smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material. [Background technology]

[0002] Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, cigars, and the like, burn tobacco to produce tobacco smoke during use. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles by creating products that release compounds without combustion. Examples of such products are so-called "heat-not-burn" products or tobacco heating devices or products, which release compounds by heating rather than burning a material. The material can be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products that may or may not contain nicotine. Summary of the Invention

[0003] A first aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for heating smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material, the apparatus comprising a thermal insulator and a magnetic field generator, the insulator comprising an inner wall at least partially defining a heating zone for receiving at least part of an article including the smoking material, the inner wall containing heating material heatable by penetration of a varying magnetic field to heat the heating zone, an outer wall, and an insulated region bounded by the inner and outer walls, the insulated region being evacuated to a lower pressure than outside the insulated region, the magnetic field generator being for generating a varying magnetic field that penetrates the inner wall to heat the inner wall in use.

[0004] In an exemplary embodiment, the outer wall is magnetically impermeable and / or non-conductive.

[0005] In an exemplary embodiment, the outer wall comprises glass or ceramic.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic field generator includes a coil surrounding at least a portion of the outer wall, which may be a helical coil and may include Litz wire.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the coil comprises a first portion for heating a first area of ​​the inner wall and a second portion for heating a second area of ​​the inner wall, the first portion and the second portion being independently controllable.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the device includes a second coil surrounding at least a portion of the outer wall, the coil and the second coil being independently controllable.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a braze ring disposed at the joint between the inner and outer walls to seal the insulating region.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the outer wall extends only partially along the length of the inner wall.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the inner wall is a cylindrical tube.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a magnetic shield surrounding the magnetic field generator.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of an electrically conductive material, a magnetic material, and an electrically conductive magnetic material.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises a metal or metal alloy.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, a first section of the inner wall is made from a first material and a second section of the inner wall is made from a second material that is different from the first material.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the device is for heating a non-liquid smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the device is for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material without burning the smokable material.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the inner wall is connected to the outer wall at a first location on the inner wall and a second location on the inner wall, and the inner wall includes at least one deformable structure between the first and second locations, the at least one deformable structure configured to deform to accommodate thermal expansion of a section of the inner wall between the first and second locations during heating of the heating material. The thermal expansion can be or include axial thermal expansion of the section of the inner wall. The inner wall may include two such deformable structures spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of the inner wall. In an exemplary embodiment, the inner wall is a cylindrical tube, and the thermal expansion can be or include axial thermal expansion of a section of the cylindrical tube.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material includes a metallized layer on the inner wall.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment, the inner wall comprises a support of a non-magnetically and / or electrically non-conductive material, with the metallized layer between the support and the insulating region.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, the inner wall comprises a support of a non-magnetically and / or electrically non-conductive material, the support being between the metallized layer and the thermal insulating region.

[0023] A second aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising: a heating zone that receives at least a portion of an article including smoking material; a heating element including a heating material heatable by penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field to heat a heating zone; A thermal insulator, outer wall, an inner wall between the heating element and the outer wall; and an insulator comprising an insulating region bounded by an inner wall and an outer wall, the insulating region being evacuated to a lower pressure than outside the insulating region, one or each of the inner and outer walls being non-magnetically permeable and / or non-conductive; a magnetic field generator for generating a fluctuating magnetic field which penetrates the heating element when in use; It is equipped with:

[0024] Exemplary embodiments of the apparatus of the second aspect may have any of the features described above as being present in the exemplary embodiments of the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention.

[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, one or each of the inner and outer walls is formed from glass.

[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating element is connected to the interior wall by one or more deformable attachments.

[0027] A third aspect of the present invention provides smoking material for use with a device of the first or second aspect of the present invention.

[0028] The smoking material of the third aspect of the present invention is a non-liquid smoking material.

[0029] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides an article comprising smoking material, the article being for use with a device of the first or second aspect of the present invention.

[0030] A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a system for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the system comprising: an apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the present invention; an article including smoking material for at least partial placement in a heating zone of said device; Equipped with.

[0031] A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a method for heating a smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material, the method comprising: Providing an apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the invention; placing at least a portion of an article comprising smoking material in a heating zone of the device; penetrating a varying magnetic field into the heating zone and the heating material of the device to heat the smokable material; Includes.

[0032] A seventh aspect of the present invention provides an insulating body for use in an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the insulating body comprising: an inner wall containing a heating material that is heatable by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field; an outer wall that is non-magnetically permeable and / or non-conductive; an insulated region bounded by an inner wall and an outer wall, the insulated region being evacuated to a lower pressure than outside the insulated region; Equipped with.

[0033] Exemplary embodiments of the insulation of the seventh aspect have any of the features described above as being present in the exemplary embodiments of the insulation in the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, an insulating region surrounds the inner wall and an outer wall surrounds the insulating region.

[0035] In an exemplary embodiment, the insulation is for use in an apparatus of the first or second aspect of the invention.

[0036] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a thermal insulator in the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of insulation for use in an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 6A] 1 shows a detail of one joint between an outer wall and an inner wall of insulation used in an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. [Figure 6B] 10 shows a detail of another joint between an outer wall and an inner wall of insulation used in an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. [Figure 7] 1 illustrates an example of an article containing smoking material for use with a device for heating the smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a system including an article containing smoking material and a device for heating the smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material. [Figure 9]1 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of insulation for use in an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of insulation for use in an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of insulation for use in an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. FIG. [Figure 13] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of an insulation body and a heating element for use in an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. [Figure 14] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of insulation for use in an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. FIG. [Figure 15] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of insulation for use in an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] As used herein, the term "smoking material" includes materials that, upon heating, provide volatile components, typically in the form of a vapor or aerosol. "Smoking material" may be a non-tobacco-containing material or a tobacco-containing material. "Smoking material" may include, for example, one or more of tobacco itself, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extract, homogenized tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. Smoking material may be in the form of ground tobacco, cut rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, reconstituted smoking material, liquid, gel, gelled sheet, powder, or loaf, or the like. "Smoking material" may also include other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine, depending on the product. "Smoking material" may also include one or more humectants, such as glycerol or propylene glycol.

[0039] As used herein, the term "heater material" or "heating material" refers to a material that can be heated by the penetration of a varying magnetic field.

[0040] As used herein, the terms "flavoring" and "flavoring agent" refer to materials that may be used in products for adult consumers to create a desired flavor or fragrance, where permitted by local regulations. These include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie™, bourbon, Scotch, whiskey, mint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, ginseng, ginseng, ginseng extract ... The additives may include other additives such as jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, bell pepper, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or peppermint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or stimulants, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucrose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath fresheners. These may be imitation, synthetic, or natural ingredients, or mixtures thereof. They may also include natural or nature-identical flavors. They may be in any suitable form, such as an oil, liquid, or powder.

[0041] Induction heating is a process in which a conductive object is heated by penetrating a varying magnetic field into the object. This process is explained by Faraday's law of induction and Ohm's law. An induction heater can include an electromagnet and a device for passing a varying current, such as an alternating current, through the electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to be heated are appropriately positioned relative to one another so that the resultant varying magnetic field generated by the electromagnet penetrates the object, one or more eddy currents are generated within the object. The object has a resistance to the flow of current. Therefore, when such eddy currents are generated within the object, they flow against the object's electrical resistance, thereby heating the object. This process is called Joule heating, ohmic heating, or resistance heating. An object that can be inductively heated is known as a susceptor.

[0042] Magnetic hysteresis heating is the process of heating an object made of a magnetic material by the penetration of a varying magnetic field into the object. Magnetic materials can be thought of as containing many atomic-scale magnets, or magnetic dipoles. When a magnetic field penetrates such a material, the magnetic dipoles align along the magnetic field. Thus, when a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field as generated by an electromagnet, penetrates a magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changes in response to the applied varying magnetic field. This reorientation of the magnetic dipoles generates heat within the magnetic material.

[0043] When an object is both conductive and magnetic, subjecting the object to a varying magnetic field can produce both Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating within the object. Furthermore, the use of magnetic materials can enhance the magnetic field, which can enhance Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating.

[0044] In each of the above processes, because heat is generated within the object itself rather than by thermal conduction from an external heat source, rapid temperature rise and more uniform heat distribution within the object can be achieved, particularly through selection of suitable object materials and geometry and suitable varying magnetic field magnitude and orientation relative to the object. Furthermore, induction heating and magnetic hysteresis heating do not require a physical connection between the source of the varying magnetic field and the object, allowing for greater design freedom, better control over the heating profile, and lower costs.

[0045] Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2 and 3 show schematic cross-sectional views of an insulation body of the device. For clarity, the insulation body 102 is shown in simplified form in Figure 1. The device 100 shown in Figure 1 is for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The insulation body 102 of the device 100 is for receiving at least a portion of an article 104 including a mass of smokable material 132 to be heated. The insulation body 102 is shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3. The article 104 may be inserted into an opening 144 in the device 100. The device 100 includes a magnetic field generator 106 for generating a varying magnetic field in use, and a housing 108 for housing the components of the device 100.

[0046] In this embodiment, the magnetic field generator 106 comprises a power source 114, two-part coils 116 a, 116 b, and a device 118 for applying a varying current, such as an alternating current, to the coils 116 a, 116 b. In some such embodiments, the magnetic field generator 106 also includes a controller 120 and a user interface 122 for user operation of the controller 120.

[0047] The power source 114 may be a rechargeable battery. In other embodiments, the power source 114 may be something other than a rechargeable battery, such as a non-rechargeable battery, a capacitor, a battery-capacitor hybrid, or a connection to a mains power source.

[0048] The coils 116a, 116b may take any suitable form, including a single coil. In this embodiment, the two-part coils 116a, 116b are helical coils made of a conductive material, such as copper. In some embodiments, the coils 116a, 116b may be flat coils; that is, the coils may have a quasi-two-dimensional spiral shape. In some embodiments, the coils may comprise Litz wire.

[0049] The device 100 may include an air inlet that fluidly connects the interior of the device 100 with the exterior of the device 100. In use, a user may inhale the volatile components of the smokable material 132 by drawing them through the article 104. Once the volatile components have been removed from the article, air may be drawn into the device 100 through the air inlet.

[0050] The insulator 102 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 and includes an inner wall 110 and an outer wall 112. The inner wall 110 is a heating element that contains or is made from a heating material that can be heated by the penetration of a varying magnetic field. In one embodiment, the inner wall 110 may be formed of steel. However, a nickel-cobalt iron alloy such as Kovar® may also be used. The area enclosed by the inner wall 110 can be considered a heating zone or heating chamber. Together with the end closures, the inner wall 110 defines the heating zone. In other embodiments, the heating zone may be defined solely by the inner wall 110. In use, the item 104 to be heated is received within the heating zone within the inner wall 110. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the insulator 102 is substantially cylindrical with a circular cross-sectional shape. In other embodiments, the insulator 102 may have a different cross-sectional shape.

[0051] In one embodiment, the inner wall 110 includes a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the article. In this embodiment, the heating zone enclosed by the inner wall 110 is elongated. Additionally, the inner wall 110 is a cylindrical tube. The heating zone may be sized and shaped to accommodate the entire article 104, or may be dimensioned to receive only a portion of the article 104.

[0052] The insulation 102 is bounded by an inner wall 110 and an outer wall 112 and includes an insulating region 124 disposed therebetween. In this embodiment, as best seen in FIG. 3 , the insulating region 124 surrounds the inner wall 110, and the outer wall 112 surrounds the insulating region 124. The insulating region 124 is preferably vented to a lower pressure than the pressure outside the insulating region. Providing a low-pressure insulating region 124 effectively thermally insulates the inner wall 110 and heating zone from the outer wall 112 and the housing 108, thereby reducing heat transfer from the inner wall 110 and heating zone.

[0053] The insulating region 124 of the insulation 102 may comprise an open-cell porous material, including, for example, a polymer, aerogel, or other suitable material. The pressure within the insulating region 124 is 10 -1 ~10 -7 The pressure within the insulating region 124 can be in the range of 100 torr. In some embodiments, the pressure within the insulating region 124 can be considered a vacuum. The inner and outer walls 110, 112 of the insulation 102 are strong enough to withstand the forces exerted on them by the pressure difference between the insulating region 124 and the region outside the inner and outer walls 110, 112, thereby preventing the insulation 102 from collapsing inward. Gas-absorbing materials may be used in the insulating region 124 to maintain or assist in creating a relatively low pressure in the insulating region 124.

[0054] In this embodiment, the interior wall 110 functions as both the heating element and the wall of the insulator 102, thereby eliminating the need to include a separate heating element and a separate insulating interior wall, thereby reducing the overall size and weight of the device 100. The interior wall 110 can also function as both the heating element and the wall of the insulator 102 due to the fact that it can be heated by induction heating and / or magnetic hysteresis heating. Induction heating and magnetic hysteresis heating do not require a physical connection between the source of the varying magnetic field and the heating element, thereby eliminating the need for wires or other physical connections between the power source and the heating element.

[0055] The insulating region 124 functions to reduce heat transfer away from the interior wall 110 via conduction and / or radiation, or by any other known heat transfer phenomenon.

[0056] Figure 3 shows a cross section along line AA in Figure 2. Figures 2 and 3 are not drawn to scale. In Figure 2, the outer wall 112 is shown extending only partially along the length of the inner wall 110. That is, the outer wall 112 extends along only a portion of the inner wall 110 so that insulation can be provided along only a portion of the inner wall 110. Providing the outer wall 112 to extend only partway along the length of the inner wall 110 means that the overall size of the device 100 can be reduced. Alternatively, the outer wall 112 may extend along the entire length of the inner wall 110. The outer wall 112 and the inner wall 110 may be coaxial with each other.

[0057] 1, the coils 116a, 116b may surround at least a portion of the insulation 102. The coils 116a, 116b may surround at least a portion of the outer wall 112 of the insulation 102. In one embodiment, the coils 116a, 116b and the outer wall 112 may be formed as a single, integral element, such as by at least partially embedding the coils 116a, 116b within the outer wall 112, while in other embodiments, the coils 116a, 116b and the outer wall 112 may be provided as separate elements.

[0058] In one embodiment, a magnetic shield 140 is provided around at least a portion of the coils 116a, 116b. The magnetic shield 140 is intended to reduce or avoid interaction between the magnetic field and anything other than the heating element, which in this embodiment is the inner wall 110. The magnetic shield can be made from any material suitable for containing magnetic fields, such as ferrite.

[0059] In some embodiments, the outer wall 112 is made of a magnetically impermeable and non-conductive material to prevent the outer wall 112 from heating by induction and / or magnetic hysteresis heating when exposed to a fluctuating magnetic field. For example, the outer wall 112 may be formed of a glass, such as a borosilicate, or a ceramic material. Providing the outer wall 112 of a magnetically impermeable material means that when a fluctuating current, such as an alternating current, passes through the coils 116a, 116b, the inner wall 110 of the insulator 102 heats, while the outer wall 112 does not heat by induction and / or magnetic hysteresis heating. This improves system efficiency because energy is not wasted heating the outer wall 112. If the fluctuating current were to heat the outer wall 112, the inner wall 110 may actually heat only minimally, which is undesirable. This configuration also helps maintain the exterior temperature of the housing 108, particularly its surfaces, at an acceptable level for user handling.

[0060] Figure 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of another example insulation for use in an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the insulation 102 is the same as the insulation 102 of Figures 2 and 3, except that the inner wall 110 includes two deformable structures 127, 129. More specifically, as can be seen from Figure 10, the inner wall 110 is connected to the outer wall 112 at a first location on the inner wall 110 and at a second location on the inner wall 110. During heating of the heating material in the inner wall 110, the two deformable structures 127, 129 deform to accommodate thermal expansion of a region of the inner wall 110 between the first and second positions. Each of the deformable structures 127, 129 can be thought of as similar to an expansion joint.

[0061] In this embodiment, the inner wall 110 is a cylindrical tube, the thermal expansion is or includes axial thermal expansion, and each of the structures 127, 129 is axially deformable to accommodate or absorb the axial thermal expansion. This helps reduce or avoid stress on the outer wall 112 and on the connections between the outer wall 112 and the inner wall 110 at the first and second locations of the inner wall 110. This can be particularly effective when the outer wall 112 is stiff or less flexible than the inner wall 110, such as when the outer wall 112 is made of or includes glass or ceramic.

[0062] In other embodiments, the interior wall 110 may include only one such deformable structure, or may include three or more such deformable structures.

[0063] In some embodiments, such as those shown, the deformable structure comprises two radially extending members joined by a connecting member, and during deformation of the structure, the connecting member and / or the radially extending members and / or the joint between the connecting member and the radially extending members flexes, allowing relative movement of the ends of the radially extending members distal from the connecting member.

[0064] For brevity, the at least one deformable structure has been described in detail with reference to the insulation 102 of FIG. 10, but it will be understood that the at least one deformable structure can be incorporated into corresponding variations of any embodiment of the insulation 102 or device described herein to form further embodiments of the insulation 102 and device.

[0065] FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of another example insulator for use in an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the insulator 102 is the same as the insulator 102 of FIGS. 2 and 3, except that the heating element including the heating material 142 includes a metallized layer 148 on the inner wall 110. The outer wall 112 is formed from a non-conductive and / or non-magnetically permeable material, such as glass or ceramic. The inner wall 110 includes a support 150 formed from a non-conductive and / or non-magnetically permeable material, such as glass or ceramic, and the metallized layer 148. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the support 150 is disposed between the metallized layer 148 and the insulating region 124. The metallized layer 148 is heatable by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field. The metallized layer is formed from a conductive and / or magnetically permeable material, such as iron. The metallized layer may be applied, for example, in powder form or as a coating or plating. The provision of the metallized layer 148 reduces the overall size of the insulator 102.

[0066] Figure 12 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of another example insulator for use in an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the insulator 102 is the same as the insulator 102 of Figure 11, except that a metallization layer 148 is between the support 150 and the insulating region 124. Any of the variations described herein for the insulator of Figure 11 may be made to the insulator of Figure 12 to form other embodiments.

[0067] 4 and 5 show schematic cross-sectional views of another insulation for use in a device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the inner wall 110 and the outer wall 112 are formed from a non-conductive and / or non-magnetically permeable material. The inner wall 110 is adjacent to a heating element 142 containing a heating material that can be heated by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field. The heating element 142 is formed from a conductive and / or magnetically permeable material. As shown in FIG. 5, the heating element 142 is hollow so that an article 104 containing smokable material can be received therein. One embodiment of the device of the present invention includes the insulation and heating element 142 of FIGS. 4 and 5 instead of the insulation 102 with the integrated heating element of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0068] In embodiments such as those of FIGS. 1-3, coils 116a, 116b extend along a central longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned with the central longitudinal axis of inner wall 110, such that coils 116a, 116b are substantially coaxial with inner wall 110. That is, the aligned axes are coincident. In variations of this embodiment, the aligned axes may instead be parallel to one another. In this embodiment, coils 116a, 116b are in a fixed position relative to inner wall 110.

[0069] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 , device 118 for passing a varying current through coils 116 a, 116 b is electrically connected between power source 114 and coils 116 a, 116 b. In one embodiment, controller 120 is also electrically connected to power source 114 and communicatively connected to device 118 for controlling device 118. More specifically, in this embodiment, controller 120 is for controlling device 118 to control the supply of power from power source 114 to coils 116 a, 116 b. In one embodiment, controller 120 may comprise an integrated circuit (IC), such as an IC on a printed circuit board (PCB). In other embodiments, controller 120 may take different forms. In some embodiments, apparatus 100 may have a single electrical or electronic component comprising device 118 and controller 120. Controller 120 may be operated by user manipulation of user interface 122, in this embodiment. In this embodiment, user interface 122 is located external to housing 108. User interface 122 may include push buttons, toggle switches, dials, a touch screen, etc. In other embodiments, user interface 122 may be remote and connected to apparatus 100 wirelessly, such as via Bluetooth. In this embodiment, user manipulation of user interface 122 causes controller 120 to cause device 118 to pass an alternating current through coils 116 a, 116 b, thereby generating an alternating magnetic field in coil 114.

[0070] The coils 116a, 116b and the inner wall 110 of the device 100 are appropriately positioned relative to one another so that, in use, the varying magnetic field generated by the coils 116a, 116b penetrates the heating material of the inner wall 110. If the heating material of the inner wall 110 is an electrically conductive material, as in this embodiment, this generates one or more eddy currents within the heating material. The flow of eddy currents within the heating material relative to the electrical resistance of the heating material heats the heating material through Joule heating. In this embodiment, the heating material is made of a magnetic material, so that the orientation of magnetic dipoles within the heating material changes with the applied magnetic field, thereby generating heat in the heating material through magnetic hysteresis. As previously mentioned, in some embodiments, the outer wall 112 is formed from a non-magnetically permeable and / or non-conductive material so that it does not heat up when exposed to a varying magnetic field. Providing such an outer wall 112 means that the inner wall 110 benefits more from the effects of the varying magnetic field.

[0071] In one embodiment, the coils 116a, 116b surround only a portion of the outer wall 112. In another embodiment, the coils 116a, 116b surround the outer wall 112 along the entire length of the outer wall 112.

[0072] In one embodiment, the coils 116a, 116b comprise a first portion 116a surrounding a first portion of the outer wall 112 and a second portion 116b surrounding a second portion of the outer wall 112. The controller 120 can control the device 118 to pass a fluctuating current, such as an alternating current, through the first portion 116a to heat the first portion of the inner wall 110. The controller 120 of the magnetic field generator 106 can control the device 118 to pass a fluctuating current, such as an alternating current, through the second portion 116a to heat the second portion of the inner wall 110. The controller 120 of the magnetic field generator 106 can selectively and independently control the device 118 to pass a fluctuating current, such as an alternating current, through the first portion 116a and the second portion 116b to heat the first and second portions of the inner wall 110 independently of one another. Thus, when an article 104 containing smokable material is placed in the heating zone, in use, a first region of the article 104 is heated by a first portion of the inner wall 110, and a second region of the article 104 is heated by a second portion of the inner wall 110. Providing a first coil portion and a second coil portion in this manner allows for relatively rapid formation and release of aerosol from the first region of the article for inhalation by a user, followed by subsequent release of a second aerosol from the second region of the article when the second coil portion is activated. It will be appreciated that a coil consisting of more than one portion, or multiple coils, may be provided. Similarly, multiple coils or multiple portions of a coil may be operated simultaneously, perhaps depending on user preference.

[0073] In some cases, the article 104 used in the apparatus 100 may include a heating element including a heating material that is heatable by the penetration of a varying magnetic field. The heating element may be positioned within the article such that when the article 104 is placed in a heating zone of the apparatus 100 and the magnetic field generator 106 controls the device 118 to pass a varying current, such as an alternating current, through the coils 116 a, 116 b to heat the interior wall 110, the article 104 is heated by both the heat-sensitive element of the article 104 and the interior wall 110 of the apparatus 100.

[0074] In one embodiment, the impedance of the coils 116a, 116b of the magnetic field generator 106 is equal to or substantially equal to the impedance of the inner wall 110. If instead the impedance of the inner wall 110 were lower than the impedance of the coils 116a, 116b, the voltage developed across the inner wall 110 in use could be lower than the voltage that would develop across the inner wall 110 if the impedances were matched. Alternatively, if the impedance of the inner wall 110 were higher than the impedance of the coils 116a, 116b, the current developed in the inner wall 110 in use could be lower than the current that would develop in the inner wall 110 if the impedances were matched. Matching the impedances can help balance the voltage and current to maximize the heating power generated at the inner wall 110 in use. In some embodiments, the impedance of the device 118 is equal to or substantially equal to the combined impedance of the coils 116a, 116b and the inner wall 110.

[0075] The apparatus 100 may include a temperature sensor 130 for sensing the temperature of the interior wall 110. The temperature sensor 130 may be communicatively connected to the controller 120, such that the controller 120 can monitor the temperature of the interior wall 110 or heating zone. Based on one or more signals received from the temperature sensor 130, the controller 120 causes the device 118 to adjust the characteristics of the fluctuating or alternating current flowing through the coils 116a, 116b as necessary to maintain the temperature of the heating zone or interior wall 110 within a predetermined temperature range. The characteristics may be, for example, amplitude, frequency, or duty cycle. When within the predetermined temperature range, in use, smokable material within an article located in the heating zone is heated sufficiently to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material without combusting the smokable material. Thus, in this embodiment, the controller 120 and the apparatus 100 as a whole are configured to heat the smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material without combusting the smokable material. In some embodiments, the operating temperature range is about 50°C to about 350°C, e.g., about 50°C to about 250°C, about 50°C to about 150°C, about 50°C to about 120°C, about 50°C to about 100°C, about 50°C to about 80°C, or about 60°C to about 70°C. In some embodiments, the temperature range is about 170°C to about 220°C. In other embodiments, the temperature range may be outside of these ranges. In some embodiments, the upper limit of the temperature range may be greater than 350°C. In some embodiments, temperature sensor 130 may be omitted. In some embodiments, the heating material of interior wall 110 may have a Curie point temperature selected based on the maximum temperature to which it is desired to heat the heating material, such that further heating above that temperature by inductive heating of the heating material is inhibited or prevented.

[0076] 6A and 6B show details of the connection between the inner wall 110 and the outer wall 112 of an insulation body, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The end of the insulation region 124 of the insulation body 102 tapers as the outer wall 112 and the inner wall 110 converge to an outlet (not shown) through which gas within the insulation region 124 can be evacuated to create a vacuum during fabrication of the insulation body 102. While FIGS. 6A and 6B show details of the outer wall 112 converging toward the inner wall 110, the opposite configuration, in which the inner wall 110 converges toward the outer wall 112, can alternatively be used. The converging end of the outer wall 112 is configured to direct gas molecules within the insulation region 124 out the outlet, thereby evacuating the insulation region 124 to a lower pressure than outside the insulation region during fabrication. The outlet can be sealed to maintain a vacuum or lower pressure region within the insulation region 124 after the insulation region 124 is evacuated. The outlets may be sealed, for example, by brazing material to the inner and outer walls 110, 112 at the outlets after the gas has exited the insulating region 124, creating brazed seal rings 126, 128 at the outlets. However, alternative sealing techniques may be used. Brazed seal rings 126, 128 at the joints between the inner and outer walls 110, 112 act to reduce heat transfer away from the inner wall 112 due to convection, thereby reducing energy losses in the system.

[0077] In certain embodiments, the inner wall 110 and the outer wall 112 may comprise different materials that are bonded together. For example, the outer wall 112 may comprise a glass or ceramic material, and the inner wall 110 may comprise a metal or metal alloy. In these cases, the outer wall 112 and the metal inner wall 110 may be brazed together with a silver eutectic braze material. The braze materials may be applied sequentially to a single joint in an order that depends on the temperature tolerances of the materials involved. For example, the highest temperature bonding process may be applied first to the material of a first wall to form a first bond to that wall. The temperature of the bonding process may then be reduced to form a second bond to the other wall.

[0078] In embodiments where the outer wall 112 comprises a glass material and the inner wall 110 comprises a metal or metal alloy, the joining process can include a glass-to-metal seal in which a bond is formed between the inner wall 110 and the outer wall 112 by high temperature melting of the glass and / or metal / metal alloy.

[0079] In certain embodiments, the ends of the outer wall 112 may be shaped to fit closely with the inner wall 110 before bonding occurs. An example of an outer wall 112 with such shaped ends (formed ends) is shown in FIG. 14. Each end of the outer wall 112 may have a flared end 112a shaped to allow the outer wall 112 to form an intimate bond with the inner wall 110. As seen in FIG. 14, the ends 112a are flared downward toward the inner wall 110 to fit closely with the inner wall 110. In some embodiments, if the outer wall 112 comprises a glass material, the glass material can be heated and deformed to fit closely with the inner wall 110.

[0080] In some embodiments, the inner wall 110 may be shaped to fit closely with the outer wall 112 when the inner wall 110 and outer wall 112 are assembled together. An example of an inner wall 110 with shaped edges is shown in FIG. 15. Each edge of the inner wall 110 has a flange 110a. When the inner wall 110 is assembled to the outer wall 112, the flanges 110a extend toward the inner surface of the outer wall 112, fitting the inner wall and outer wall 112 into close contact.

[0081] In some embodiments, the shaped edges of the inner wall 110 and / or outer wall 112 may be heated to form a bond with the inner surface of the outer wall 112. For example, the shaped edges may be heated to melt the material forming the outer wall 112 and bond it to the shaped edges of the inner wall 110, or vice versa. Heating may include, for example, induction heating.

[0082] Any of the assembly and / or joining techniques described above, or any other suitable technique, may be used to assemble and / or join the inner wall 110 to the outer wall 112 .

[0083] To evacuate the insulating region 124, the insulation 102 may be placed in a low-pressure, substantially evacuated environment, such as a vacuum furnace chamber, so that gas molecules within the insulating region 124 flow into the low-pressure environment outside the insulation 102. As the pressure within the insulating region 124 decreases, the tapered geometry of the outer wall 112 and the inner wall 110 directs the remaining gas molecules out of the insulating region 124 through the outlet.

[0084] In some embodiments, one or more low-emissivity coatings may be provided on the interior surfaces of the insulating region 124, i.e., on the exterior surface of the interior wall 110 and the interior surface of the exterior wall 112. The provision of one or more such low-emissivity coatings may help reduce heat transfer due to infrared radiation.

[0085] In some embodiments, a reflective region is provided on the surface of the interior wall 110 that bounds the insulating region 124. Alternatively or additionally, a reflective surface may be provided on the surface of the exterior wall 112 that bounds the insulating region 124. The reflective surface functions to reduce heat transfer away from the interior wall 110 by radiation.

[0086] Although the shape of the insulation 102 has generally been described herein as being substantially cylindrical or similar, the insulation 102 may be formed in other shapes, for example, as a rectangular parallelepiped. In one embodiment, the inner wall 110 is tubular and surrounds the heating zone. The inner wall 110 may have a substantially circular cross-section. However, in other embodiments, the inner wall 110 may have a cross-section other than circular, such as a square, rectangular, polygonal, or elliptical cross-section.

[0087] Referring to Figure 7, there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view of an article 104 comprising smoking material according to an embodiment of the present invention. The article 104 of this embodiment is particularly suitable for use in the device 100 shown in Figure 1, or in a device having the insulation and heating element 142 of Figures 4 and 5 instead of the insulation 102 with integrated heating element of Figures 2 and 3. In use, the article 104 may be removably inserted into a heating zone at opening 144 of the device 100.

[0088] In one embodiment, the article 104 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod comprising a mass of smoking material 132 and a filter assembly in the form of a rod. The filter assembly in this embodiment comprises three segments: a cooling segment 134, a filter segment 136, and a mouth end segment 138. However, in other embodiments, any one, two, or all of these segments 134, 136, 138 may be omitted.

[0089] The smokable material 132 is disposed toward the distal end of the article 104. In one embodiment, the cooling segment 134 is disposed between the mass of smokable material 132 and the filter segment 136, such that the cooling segment 134 is in abutting relationship with the smokable material 132 and the filter segment 136. The filter segment 136 is disposed between the cooling segment 134 and the mouth end segment 138. The mouth end segment 138 is disposed adjacent the filter segment 136 toward the proximal end of the article 104. In one embodiment, the filter segment 136 is in abutting relationship with the mouth end segment 138.

[0090] In one embodiment, the mass of smoking material 132 comprises tobacco. However, in each of the other embodiments, the smoking material 132 may consist of tobacco, consist substantially entirely of tobacco, include tobacco and smoking material other than tobacco, include smoking material other than tobacco, or be tobacco-free. The smoking material may include an aerosol-forming agent, such as glycerol.

[0091] In one embodiment, the cooling segment 134 is an annular tube that is disposed around and defines an air gap within the cooling segment 134. The air gap provides a chamber for the flow of heated volatiles generated from the mass of smokable material 132. The cooling segment 134 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation, yet is rigid enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that may occur during manufacturing and while the article 104 is inserted into the device 100 during use. The cooling segment 134 provides a physical displacement between the smokable material 132 and the filter segment 136. The physical displacement provided by the cooling segment 134 provides a thermal gradient across the length of the cooling segment 134.

[0092] The filter segment 136 may be formed of any filter material sufficient to remove one or more volatile compounds from the heated volatiles from the smoking material. In one embodiment, the filter segment 136 is made of a mono-acetate material, such as cellulose acetate. The presence of the filter segment 136 provides an insulating effect by providing additional cooling to the heated volatiles exiting the cooling segment 136. This additional cooling effect reduces the temperature of the surface of the filter segment 136 when the user's lips come into contact with it.

[0093] The mouth end segment 138 is an annular tube that is disposed around and defines an air gap within the mouth end segment 138. The air gap provides a chamber for heated volatiles that flow from the filter segment 138.

[0094] In one embodiment, the overall length of the article 104 is between 71 mm and 95 mm, more preferably, the overall length of the article 104 is between 79 mm and 87 mm, and even more preferably, the overall length of the article 104 is 83 mm.

[0095] In one embodiment, article 104 is elongated and substantially cylindrical with a substantially circular cross-section, however, in other embodiments, article 104 may have a cross-section other than circular and / or may not be elongated and / or may not be cylindrical.

[0096] Referring to Figure 8, there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view of a system according to one embodiment of the present invention. System 200 includes apparatus 100 of Figure 1 and article 104 of Figure 7. For the sake of brevity, apparatus 100 and article 104 will not be described in detail again.

[0097] In use, the article 104 is contained within the heating zone of the device. As described above, the inner wall 110 is heatable by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field to heat the heating zone. The article within the heating zone is then heated to release one or more volatile components of the smoking material.

[0098] In use, air can be drawn into the article 104 through a distal end of the article 104 via an inlet fluidly connecting the interior of the device 100 with the exterior of the device 100. The air passes through the smokable material 132, picking up volatile components released from the smokable material 132, and the volatile components, typically in the form of a vapor or aerosol, are then drawn through a filter assembly of the article 104 and out the proximal end of the article 104 for consumption by the user.

[0099] In one embodiment, when the article 104 is in the heating zone, the inner wall 110 is in thermal contact with the smokable material 132 of the article 104. In one embodiment, the smokable material 132 is in face-to-face contact with the inner wall 110. Thus, the inner wall 110 is heatable in use to directly heat the smokable material 132. In other embodiments, the heating material of the inner wall 110 may avoid face-to-face contact with the smokable material 132, but still maintain a thermal relationship with the smokable material 132.

[0100] In other embodiments, as described above with reference to Figures 4 and 5, the inner wall 110 is adjacent to a heating element that includes a heating material that is heatable by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field. In such embodiments, the heating element 142 is in thermal contact (preferably face-to-face contact) with the smokable material 132 of the article 104 so as to heat the smokable material 132 in use.

[0101] FIG. 13 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of another example insulation for use in an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the insulation 102 is the same as the insulation 102 of FIG. 4 , except that the heating element 142 is connected to the interior wall 110 by one or more deformable attachments 152. While four deformable attachments 152 are shown in FIG. 13 , in other embodiments, the number may be more or less, such as one or two. In some examples, the deformable attachments 152 provide a structural connection between the interior wall 110 and the heating element 142 while also allowing limited relative movement between the interior wall 110 and the heating element 142. During heating, the interior wall 110 and the heating element 142 may expand at different rates. Allowing some relative movement between the interior wall 110 and the heating element 142 due to different thermal expansion rates helps reduce or avoid stresses on the interior wall 110 and the heating element 142. This can be particularly advantageous when the inner wall 110 is inflexible or less flexible than the inner wall heating element 142, such as when the inner wall is made of or includes glass or ceramic. In some embodiments, the deformable attachment can be made from high temperature silicone, for example.

[0102] In one embodiment, the length of the mass of smokable material 132 is approximately equal to the length of the inner wall 110. This may help to provide more efficient heating of the smokable material 132 during use. In other embodiments, the length of the mass of smokable material 132 may be shorter or longer than the length of the inner wall 110.

[0103] In one embodiment, the interior wall 110 is impermeable to air or volatile materials and is substantially continuous.

[0104] Referring to FIG. 9, a flow diagram illustrating a method of heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0105] The method 300 includes step 302 of providing an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, such as apparatus 100 shown in Figure 1 and described above. The method also includes step 304 of placing an article including smokable material within a heating zone of the apparatus, such as article 104 shown in Figure 7 and described above. The method further includes step 306 of penetrating a varying magnetic field into the heating material of the apparatus to heat the heating zone and the smokable material of the article.

[0106] In each of the above-described embodiments, the heating material is steel. However, in other embodiments, the heating material may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of an electrically conductive material, a magnetic material, and an electrically conductive magnetic material. In some embodiments, the heating material may comprise a metal or metal alloy. In some embodiments, the heating material may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze. It has been found that using an electrically conductive magnetic material as the heating material can enhance magnetic coupling between the electrically conductive magnetic material and the electromagnet of the device during use. This can increase or improve Joule heating of the heating material, and therefore increase or improve heating of the smokable material, in addition to potentially enabling magnetic hysteresis heating.

[0107] The heating material may have a skin depth, which is the outer region where most of the induced currents and / or induced reorientation of magnetic dipoles occurs. By being relatively thin, a larger percentage of the heating material can be heated by a given varying magnetic field compared to a heating material that has a relatively large depth or thickness compared to other dimensions of the heating material. This results in more efficient use of material, which reduces costs.

[0108] In some embodiments, a first portion of the inner wall 110 can be made from a first material, and a second portion of the inner wall 110 can be made from a second material different from the first material. The first material can be a heating material that can be heated by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field. Examples of such heating materials are described above. The second material can be a heating material that can be heated by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field, but it must be a thermal conductor. The first portion of the inner wall 110 can be located toward the proximal or mouth end of the device 100, such that when a fluctuating magnetic field is applied to the inner wall 110, the first portion heats, and therefore the portion of the mass of smokable material 132 located toward the proximal or mouth end of the mass of smokable material 132 first. The second portion of the inner wall 110 is then heated by conduction, which heats the portion of the mass of smokable material located toward the distal end of the mass of smokable material 132.

[0109] In some embodiments, the smoking material is a non-liquid smoking material and the device is for heating the non-liquid smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material. In other embodiments, the converse may be true. In some embodiments, the device is for heating liquid smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the liquid smoking material, which is then passed through the non-smoking material.

[0110] In each of the above embodiments, the article 104 is a consumable item. Once all, or substantially all, of the volatile components of the smokable material 132 in the article 104 have been used up, the user can remove the article 104 from the device 100 and dispose of the article 104. The user can then reuse the device 100 with another similar article 104.

[0111] In some embodiments, device 100 is sold, supplied, or otherwise provided separately from the article 104 with which device 100 is usable. However, in some embodiments, device 100 and one or more articles 104 may be provided as a system 200, such as a kit or assembly, possibly with additional components such as cleaning implements.

[0112] To address various challenges and advance the art, this disclosure presents various embodiments by way of illustration and example throughout. These embodiments enable the claimed invention to be practiced. These embodiments also provide an improved apparatus for heating smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material, an improved system including such an improved apparatus and such an article, and an improved method for heating smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material. The advantages and features of the present disclosure are merely representative of exemplary embodiments and are not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive of all advantages or features. They are presented solely to aid in the understanding and teaching of the features disclosed in the claims and elsewhere herein. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure, as defined by the claims, or the equivalents thereof, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and / or spirit of the present disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of various combinations of the disclosed elements, structures, features, components, steps, means, etc. The present disclosure may include other inventions not currently recited in the claims but which may be described in the future.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, comprising: A thermal insulator, an inner wall at least partially defining a heating zone for receiving at least a portion of an article including smokable material, the inner wall including a heating material that is heatable by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field to heat the heating zone; Exterior walls, and an insulated region bounded by the inner wall and the outer wall, the insulated region being evacuated to a lower pressure than outside the insulated region; a thermal insulator comprising: a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field which, in use, penetrates said inner wall to heat said inner wall; An apparatus comprising:

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall is non-magnetically permeable and / or non-conductive.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer wall comprises glass or ceramic.

4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a coil surrounding at least a portion of the outer wall.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the coil is a helical coil.

6. 6. The apparatus of claim 4 or 5, wherein the coil comprises Litz wire.

7. 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coil comprises a first portion for heating a first area of ​​the inner wall and a second portion for heating a second area of ​​the inner wall, the first portion and the second portion being independently controllable.

8. a second coil surrounding at least a portion of the outer wall; The apparatus of any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the coil and the second coil are independently controllable.

9. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a brazing ring disposed at the joint between the inner and outer walls to seal the insulating region.

10. 10. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the outer wall extends only partially relative to the inner wall along the longitudinal length of the inner wall.

11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the inner wall is a cylindrical tube.

12. 12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a magnetic shield surrounding the magnetic field generator.

13. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of an electrically conductive material, a magnetic material, and an electrically conductive magnetic material.

14. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the heating material comprises a metal or metal alloy.

15. 15. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze.

16. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first section of the interior wall is made from a first material and the second section of the interior wall is made from a second material different from the first material.

17. 17. A device according to any preceding claim for heating non-liquid smoking material to volatilise at least one component of the smoking material without burning the smoking material.

18. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the heating material comprises a metallized layer on the inner wall.

19. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the inner wall comprises a support of a non-magnetically and / or electrically non-conductive material, the metallization layer being between the support and the insulating region.

20. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the inner wall comprises a support of a non-magnetically and / or electrically non-conductive material, the support being between the metallization layer and the thermal insulating region.

21. 1. An apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, comprising: a heating zone that receives at least a portion of an article including smoking material; a heating element including a heating material heatable by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field to heat the heating zone; A thermal insulator, outer wall, an inner wall between the heating element and the outer wall; and an insulator comprising an insulating region bounded by the inner wall and the outer wall, the insulating region being evacuated to a lower pressure than outside the insulating region, and one or each of the inner wall and the outer wall being non-magnetically permeable and / or non-conductive; a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field which, in use, penetrates said heating element; An apparatus comprising:

22. 22. The device of claim 21, wherein one or each of the inner wall and the outer wall is formed from glass.

23. 1. A system for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, comprising: An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 22; an article including said smoking material for at least partial placement in said heating zone of said device; A system comprising:

24. 1. A method for heating a smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material, comprising: Providing an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 22; placing at least a portion of an article comprising the smoking material in the heating zone of the device; directing a varying magnetic field into the heating material of the device to heat the heating zone and the smokable material; A method comprising:

25. 1. An insulation body for use in an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, comprising: an inner wall containing a heating material that is heatable by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field; an outer wall that is non-magnetically permeable and / or non-conductive; an insulated region bounded by the inner wall and the outer wall, the insulated region being evacuated to a lower pressure than outside the insulated region; The thermal insulator comprises:

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