Aerosol Generation System

Abstract

1. An aerosol generation system comprising: a consumable (1) including a rod-shaped portion (11) comprising an aerosol-generating substrate; a heating chamber (21) including a first end (212), a second end (213), and a sidewall extending around the heating chamber between the first and second ends, the heating chamber configured to receive the rod-shaped portion of the consumable; and a heater (22) configured to deliver heat from the sidewall to the heating chamber, wherein the width of the chamber is greater than the width of the rod-shaped portion, the consumable including a resilient portion (12) around a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped portion, the heating chamber further including a plurality of inward protrusions (211) extending from the sidewall and distributed around an inner circumference of the heating chamber, the protrusions configured to engage with and apply pressure to the resilient portion to position the consumable within the chamber.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating system in which an aerosol-generating substrate is heated to form an aerosol. The disclosure is particularly applicable to portable aerosol-generating devices that may be self-contained and low-temperature. Such devices may heat tobacco or other suitable aerosol substrate material by conduction, convection, and / or radiation, rather than by combustion, to generate an aerosol for inhalation. [Background technology]

[0002] The popularity and use of risk reduction or risk modification devices (also known as vaporizers) has grown rapidly in recent years as an aid to assisting regular smokers who wish to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. A variety of devices and systems are available that heat or warm aerosolizable substances, as opposed to burning tobacco in traditional tobacco products.

[0003] A commonly available risk reduction or risk modification device is the substrate-heated aerosol generator or heat-and-burn device. This type of device generates an aerosol or vapor by heating an aerosol substrate, typically containing moist tobacco or other suitable aerosolizable material, to temperatures typically ranging from 150°C to 350°C. By heating rather than burning or combusting the aerosol substrate, an aerosol is released that contains the ingredients desired by the user but without the toxic and carcinogenic by-products of combustion and burning. Furthermore, aerosols generated by heating tobacco or other aerosolizable material typically do not contain the burnt or bitter taste that can be unpleasant to users due to combustion and burning. Therefore, the substrate does not require sugars and other additives typically added to such materials to make the smoke and / or vapor more palatable to users. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In such devices, the aerosol substrate is often provided in a consumable product containing a limited amount of aerosol-generating substrate, and only a limited amount of aerosol can be generated, and it is desirable to increase the aerosol yield for a given amount of substrate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generation system comprising: a consumable including a rod-shaped portion including an aerosol-generating substrate; a heating chamber including a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending around the heating chamber between the first and second ends, the heating chamber configured to receive the rod-shaped portion of the consumable; and a heater configured to deliver heat to the heating chamber through the sidewall, wherein the width of the chamber is greater than the width of the rod-shaped portion, the consumable including an elastic portion around a longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped portion, and the heating chamber further including a plurality of inward protrusions extending from the sidewall and distributed around an inner circumference of the heating chamber, the protrusions configured to engage with and apply pressure to the elastic portion to position the consumable within the chamber.

[0006] By providing a chamber with a width greater than the width of the wand, the consumable can be more easily inserted into the chamber.

[0007] However, the heater does not heat the heating chamber uniformly throughout. As a result, leaving the consumable loose in the wider chamber can reduce the efficiency of heating and aerosol generation. By providing an inward protrusion configured to engage the consumable, the consumable can be held in a preferred position for heating.

[0008] Additionally, by configuring the protrusions to exert pressure on the resilient portion, the protrusions prevent the consumable from deforming and dislodging from the protrusions and moving away from the preferred position.

[0009] Furthermore, by applying pressure to the resilient portion around the longitudinal axis of the wand, the protrusions simultaneously apply pressure to at least a portion of the aerosol-generating substrate, this compression of the substrate increasing the efficiency of aerosol generation.

[0010] The protrusions may be sized so that the space between the protrusions in the chamber is less than the width of the resilient portion, resulting in the resilient portion being compressed to fit between the protrusions.

[0011] Optionally, the protrusion is configured symmetrically about the long axis to aid in positioning the consumable in the center of the chamber.

[0012] Positioning the consumable in the center of the chamber is suitable for embodiments in which heaters are symmetrically positioned around the sidewall to increase the efficiency of delivering heat to the heating chamber. Positioning the consumable in the center of the chamber also makes use of the system more intuitive, as the user inserts the consumable into the chamber in the same way regardless of the orientation of the heating chamber around its long axis.

[0013] Optionally, a first end of the heating chamber is open to receive the rod portion, and a second end of the heating chamber is closed.

[0014] In the case of a heating chamber that is open at only one end, the protrusion has the secondary benefit of providing a space between the consumable and the side wall of the heating chamber that can act as an air inlet for a user or pump to draw air into the consumable at one end and extract the generated aerosol from the other end of the consumable.

[0015] Optionally, the consumable exhibits a strain ratio of less than 10% when the elastic portion is compressed perpendicular to the long axis of the rod shape with a force of 0.4 N.

[0016] More preferably, the consumable product exhibits a strain ratio of 1% to 8% when the elastic portion is compressed perpendicular to the long axis of the rod shape with a force of 0.4 N.

[0017] Optionally, the consumable exhibits a strain ratio of less than 15% when the elastic portion is compressed perpendicular to the long axis of the rod shape with a force of 8N.

[0018] More preferably, the consumable product exhibits a strain ratio of 5% to 14% when the elastic portion is compressed perpendicular to the long axis of the rod shape with a force of 8 N.

[0019] These parameters provide a consumable that is sufficiently rigid to remain engaged with the protrusion in a preferred position for heating. However, if the consumable is overly rigid, it may be difficult to insert the consumable at all.

[0020] Optionally, the wand portion comprises a wrapper surrounding the substrate, and the elastic portion comprises a portion of the wrapper.

[0021] By providing a wrapper that is at least partially elastic, the consumable is able to better maintain its shape while in the heating chamber, improving air flow through the consumable and aerosol generation.

[0022] Optionally, the wrapper comprises cellulose paper. Alternatively, the wrapper comprises cellulose paper laminated with aluminum foil.

[0023] Optionally, the substrate comprises tobacco.

[0024] Optionally, the substrate comprises randomly oriented tobacco strands comprising tobacco powder and an aerosol-forming agent. The tobacco strands may be obtained by cutting a tobacco sheet obtained from paper forming, extrusion, or molding.

[0025] Randomly oriented tobacco strands have been found to provide a rod that is more rigid, or more uniformly rigid, than when the aerosol-generating substrate comprises a collection of tobacco sheets.

[0026] Optionally, the substrate density is 0.3 mg / mm 3 ~0.6mg / mm 3 is.

[0027] The inventors have found that while excessive density can result in inefficient aerosol generation, increasing the substrate density, measured as mass per unit volume within the package, improves the rigidity of the rod-shaped portion, particularly when the substrate comprises randomly oriented tobacco strands.

[0028] Optionally, the substrate comprises 60-85% by weight of tobacco lamina, 8-20% by weight of aerosol-forming agent, and 5-15% by weight of filler, based on the total weight of the substrate.

[0029] Optionally, the substrate is a compressed tobacco substrate or mousse having a soft, granular texture.

[0030] Optionally, the heater is configured to heat the interior of the heating chamber to at least 190°C.

[0031] More preferably, the heater is configured to heat the interior of the heating chamber to a temperature between 230°C and 260°C.

[0032] Optionally, the heater is configured to maintain the interior of the heating chamber at at least, preferably above 190°C, most preferably above 200°C throughout the entire duration of the continuous puff.

[0033] When the substrate comprises tobacco, the aerosol is a nicotine aerosol. The inventors have found that the particular tobacco density range, tobacco morphology, and heating profile described above substantially enhance the amount of nicotine that can be produced from a given amount of substrate when pressure is applied to the substrate by protrusions extending from the sidewalls of the heating chamber.

[0034] Optionally, the protrusions are ribs extending along the sidewalls such that when the wand portion is received within the heating chamber, the ribs extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wand portion.

[0035] Optionally, the substrate is disposed within a predetermined section of the bar extending along the longitudinal axis, and the length of the rib is at least 50% of the length of the predetermined section.

[0036] More preferably, the length of the rib is 60% to 70% of the length of the given section.

[0037] Consumables typically include multiple sections in addition to the substrate section. For example, the consumable may include an air chamber or one or more filter sections. These sections do not need to be efficiently heated by the heater. However, a given section including the substrate is preferably subjected to pressure along its length to increase the efficiency of heating and aerosol generation. Extending ribs along a substantial portion of a given section can substantially increase the efficiency of aerosol generation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0038] [Figure 1A] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation system in a plane including the long axis. [Figure 1B] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation system in a plane including the long axis. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an aerosol generating device. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heating chamber in a plane containing the long axis. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation system perpendicular to the long axis. FIG. [Figure 5A] 1 presents a schematic diagram of distortion measurement on consumables. [Figure 5B] 1 presents a schematic diagram of distortion measurement on consumables. [Figure 6]1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a further aerosol generation system perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a further aerosol generation system perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a further aerosol generation system perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is an exemplary temperature profile of a heating chamber when generating an aerosol. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating system embodying the present invention.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1A, a consumable 1 is positioned within an aerosol generating device 2 to generate an aerosol.

[0041] The consumable 1 includes a rod portion 11, a resilient portion 12 around the longitudinal axis of the rod portion 11, and a filter 14.

[0042] The wand 11 includes an aerosol-generating substrate, which is a material that generates an aerosol when heated. The aerosol may be allowed to passively dissipate from the aerosol-generating system, but is preferably drawn from the consumable 1 by airflow through a filter 14.

[0043] The aerosol-forming substrate may include, for example, tobacco or nicotine. The substrate may be a solid block or may be a loose material packaged within the wrapper 13. Preferably, the substrate includes randomly oriented tobacco strands containing tobacco powder and an aerosol-forming agent. Suitable aerosol-forming agents include polyols (such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol), non-polyols (such as monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, esters such as glycerin or vegetable glycerin, etc.). In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol.

[0044] Tobacco strands can be obtained, for example, by mixing tobacco powder with an aerosol-forming agent, drying the mixture into a sheet, and then shredding the sheet. The substrate density is preferably 0.3 mg / mm 3 ~0.6mg / mm 3 is.

[0045] Substrate density represents the mass of substrate per volume unit of the rod portion. For randomly oriented tobacco strands, the substrate density can be controlled by adjusting the density of the tobacco sheet during manufacturing and by adjusting the packing rate of the strands in the rod portion. For example, a tobacco sheet may have a density of 0.45 mg / mm 3 The strand filling rate is 75%, and the density is 0.337 mg / mm 3 provides a substrate density of

[0046] The tobacco sheet may be a paper-based reconstituted tobacco sheet, an extruded tobacco sheet, or a formed tobacco sheet.

[0047] In one example, the substrate comprises, based on the total weight of the substrate, 60 to 85% by weight, preferably 70 to 80% by weight, of a tobacco lamina and 8 to 20% by weight, preferably 10 to 18% by weight, of an aerosol-forming agent. The substrate may further comprise a filler such as cellulose pulp. The substrate may comprise 2 to 20% by weight, preferably 5 to 15% by weight, of a filler. The substrate may further comprise a flavor component. The flavor can be added to the substrate as fine fragments.

[0048] The elastic portion 12 is a portion of the consumable that resists deformation when external pressure is applied (in other words, a force is required to deform the elastic portion 12, and the elastic portion 12 relaxes to its original shape when the force is no longer applied). The elastic portion 12 can take the form of a reinforced section of the wrapper 13, which is thicker or made of a different material than the bulk of the wrapper, such as cardboard or metal. In some cases, the wrapper can include a first layer extending along the longitudinal axis and a second layer located only in the elastic portion 12. Alternatively, the elastic properties of the elastic portion 12 can be provided by the rod portion 11. For example, randomly oriented tobacco strands can be packed within the wrapper to provide a resilient material. In some embodiments, the elastic portion 12 can be a complex structure including some internal voids and can have a degree of initial resilience or slackness that causes the elastic portion to deform inelastically before behaving elastically when compressed beyond its initial resilience.

[0049] The wrapper 13 may comprise, for example, paper, a paper-aluminium foil combination, cardboard, or any material suitable for storing the aerosol-generating substrate and allowing the substrate to be heated in the heating chamber. For example, the wrapper may have a breathability of 0-50 CU and a density of 25-80 g / m 2 and a thickness of 30 to 80 μm, with or without an aluminum foil of 20 to 30 μm thickness. In a preferred example, the paper has a basis weight of 35 to 50 g / m 2and a thickness of 40-60 μm. Wrapper 13 may be omitted in embodiments in which the substrate is self-supporting, for example, in embodiments in which the substrate is a compressed tobacco substrate having a soft, granular texture, such as the substrates described in co-pending European Patent Application Publication No. 19209350.8 entitled "crumbed tobacco substrate" or European Patent Application Publication No. 19209346.6 entitled "hot pressed tobacco substrate." The substrate may also be a mousse comprising tobacco material, an aerosol-forming agent, a foam stabilizer, and a foam-forming agent, such as those described in WO2016122375 or WO2020002607.

[0050] The aerosol generating device 2 includes a heating chamber 21 and a heater 22 .

[0051] The heating chamber 21 is a tubular structure with an internal hollow into which the consumable 1, i.e., the rod portion 11 of the consumable 1, can be received. Specifically, the heating chamber includes a sidewall extending between a first end 212 and a second end 213. The first end 212 is open or can be opened or closed during use to allow insertion of the rod portion 11. The second end 213 may be open, as shown in FIG. 1A, to provide an air inlet for air to flow through the consumable. Alternatively, the second end 213 may be closed to increase the heating efficiency of the heating chamber 21.

[0052] Heating chamber 21 can be formed from ceramic or metal. For example, heating chamber 21 can be formed by bending or pressing sheet metal. In a preferred method, heating chamber 21 is formed by a deep drawing process that involves forming a metal disk blank into an initial metal cup, annealing under vacuum or inert gas, and deep drawing the initial metal cup into an elongated tubular cup with a reduced tubular wall thickness, as described in co-pending European Patent Application Publication No. 19196023.6 entitled "heating chamber."

[0053] The heater 22 can be any heater suitable for delivering heat through the sidewalls of the heating chamber 21 into the internal cavity of the heating chamber 21. For example, the heater 22 can be a planar heater attached to a flexible support and wrapped around the sidewalls of the heating chamber 21. Such a planar heater can be in the form of an electrically powered resistive track, and the support can be one or more plastic or polymer sheets, e.g., polyimide, a fluoropolymer such as PTFE, or polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Alternatively, other types of heaters can be used, such as heaters in which heat is provided by a chemical reaction, such as fuel combustion. The heating chamber can be further surrounded by insulation, such as vacuum tubing, insulating fabric, and / or aerogel.

[0054] 1A outside the heating chamber 21, in some embodiments the heater 22 may be located inside the heating chamber 21. This allows for the use of insulation on the side walls of the heating chamber 21. For example, one or more blade- or pin-type heaters 22 may be designed to fit tightly into one or more voids in the rod portion 11 of the consumable 1.

[0055] 1A, heating chamber 21 has a width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of wand portion 11 that is greater than wand portion 11. The gap formed between the heating chamber and wand portion allows sufficient air to flow into the wand portion from open first end 212 or second end 213 for extraction of aerosol from the aerosol-generating substrate. This also means that the ends of wand portion 11 can be more easily inserted into heating chamber 21 without the need for precise alignment before or during insertion.

[0056] However, to efficiently heat the wand portion 11 for aerosol generation, the expected temperature distribution within the heating chamber 21 must be taken into consideration, and to more efficiently utilize this heat distribution, the wand portion 11 must be accurately positioned within the heating chamber 21. To position the consumable within the chamber 21, a plurality of inward protrusions 211 are configured to extend from the sidewall of the heating chamber 21.

[0057] When the rod-shaped portion 11 is within the chamber 21, the protrusion 211 engages with and applies pressure to the elastic portion 12 to securely position the consumable within the chamber 21 in a position that allows the consumable to be heated more efficiently.

[0058] For example, if the heater 22 is configured to supply heat symmetrically through the sidewall of the chamber 21 (e.g., the heater extends around the entire circumference of the chamber 21 or includes symmetrically arranged heater portions), the protrusion 211 may similarly be configured symmetrically about the long axis (i.e., on the inner periphery of the heating chamber 21 around the long axis) to aid in centering the chamber. In this context, "centered" means substantially near the center with respect to the width of the chamber 21.

[0059] 1A, the protrusions 211 may take the form of ribs extending along the sidewalls parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod portion 11. The ribs may be tapered in a direction toward the first end 212 of the heating chamber 21 to guide the consumable into a preferred position for heating.

[0060] One advantage of the ribs extending along the side walls is that the user can easily align the elastic portion 12 with the protrusion 211 along the long axis of the rod-shaped portion 11 without having to precisely position the consumable 1 along the long axis.

[0061] 1B, the protrusions 211 need not extend along a sidewall parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod portion 11. Instead, the resilient portion 12 may extend along a significant portion of the rod portion 11, so that there is a wide range of positions along the longitudinal axis at which the protrusions 211 engage with the resilient portion 12. Such short protrusions 211 may be thin enough to flex along the longitudinal axis, as an alternative to tapering ribs, to guide the consumable into a preferred position.

[0062] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an aerosol generating device 2 having a heating chamber 21 and a heater 22 as described above.

[0063] The aerosol generating device 2 in this example is a self-contained, portable device having a power source 24 and a controller 23 for controlling at least the heater 22. Preferably, the power source and controller are an electrical power supply and an electronic controller, although the controller can in some embodiments be as simple as a physical switch, and the power source can be a fuel supply if the heater utilizes fuel combustion.

[0064] In preferred embodiments in which the controller 23 is an electronic controller, the device 2 may additionally include one or more thermistors for determining the temperature of the heater 22 or heating chamber 21 .

[0065] The controller 23 may be configured to control the heater 22 to heat the interior of the heating chamber according to a predetermined temperature profile.

[0066] Preferably, when the aerosol-generating substrate comprises tobacco, the heater 22 is controlled to heat the interior of the heating chamber 21 to at least 190°C, more preferably 230°C to 260°C, for aerosol generation.

[0067] Additionally, the heater 22 is preferably controlled to maintain the interior of the heating chamber at at least 190°C, and preferably above 200°C, for a predetermined puff time sufficient to generate aerosol for a user to inhale one puff. The puff time will vary depending on the particular aerosol-generating substrate and can be configured by analyzing the aerosol composition generated at different puff times, but has been found to be preferably at least 4 minutes in some cases. In other embodiments, rather than setting a predetermined puff time, the length of time the temperature is maintained may additionally or alternatively be based on a predetermined number of puffs of aerosol inhaled by the user. A puff can be detected, for example, by detecting a drop in temperature as ambient air is drawn into the heating chamber to replace the heated, aerosol-rich air.

[0068] 2, the apparatus 2 preferably additionally includes a lid 25 for keeping the heating chamber 21 closed and protected when not in use. The lid 25 may be, for example, a sliding lid constrained by rails to move between a closed position and an open position.

[0069] 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heating chamber 21 in a specific embodiment of an aerosol generation system, with the consumable 1 located in a heating position within the heating chamber 21 also being partially shown.

[0070] 3, the protrusions 211 may correspond to depressions 214 in the outer surface of the heating chamber 21. In such cases, it is not necessary to add material to the sidewalls to form the protrusions 211; instead, the protrusions 211 may be formed by deforming the sidewalls. As a result of thinner depression walls, heat can be more efficiently transferred by convection to the consumables in the depressions, in addition to the heat transferred by convection in gaps formed between or across the depressions.

[0071] In this specific embodiment, the second end 213 of the heating chamber 21 is closed, and the air flow for drawing aerosol from the consumable is indicated using arrows F1, F2, and F3. Air enters the heating chamber 21 at the first end 212, where the consumable 1 is spaced from the sidewall of the heating chamber 21. This space is defined by the protrusion 211, which positions the consumable 1 within the chamber 21. An additional benefit of the protrusion 211 is that it supports an airflow path for air drawn through the consumable 1. After passing along the airflow path supported by the protrusion 211, the air enters the consumable 1 at the end adjacent to the second end 213 of the heating chamber 21. The air then flows through the rod portion 11, which contains the aerosol-generating substrate, picks up the generated aerosol, and exits the consumable via arrow F3. The consumable 1 may include a space 15 for the air to cool and may include a filter 14. The space may advantageously be formed by a hollow paper tube. The filter 14 may advantageously be formed or in two segments. One of the two segments may be a hollow filter segment and the other may be a plain filter segment. The segments may be individually wrapped in plug wraps and combined by a common plug wrap to form the filter. The paper tube, filter, and rod may be combined by a single or double layer of tipping paper. Ventilation holes may be formed, for example by laser machining, through the wrapper, preferably through the paper tube and tipping paper, in close proximity to the filter, for example at a distance of 1 to 2 mm.

[0072] Alternatively, if the consumable 1 is not configured so that the user inhales the aerosol directly from the consumable, the consumable 1 may include only the rod-shaped portion 11, and the aerosol-carrying air towards arrow F3 may be further drawn through the structure of the aerosol generating device 2 to a reusable or semi-disposable mouthpiece of the aerosol generating device 2 that is separate from the consumable 1.

[0073] Preferably, the heating chamber 21 also includes a platform 215 that extends into the interior volume of the heating chamber 21 at the second end 213. The longer width of the platform is preferably less than the width of the consumable. The platform 215 promotes air flow by supporting the consumable 1 at least partially separated from the second end 213, as shown in FIG.

[0074] As shown in Figure 3, the protrusions 211, in addition to engaging the resilient portion 12, may partially compress the wand portion 11. The wand portion need not be resilient over the entire area of ​​contact with the protrusions. Compressing the aerosol-generating substrate within the wand portion 11 has the effect of improving aerosol generation for a given temperature profile. Improved aerosol generation is thus an additional benefit of the protrusions 211.

[0075] The length L1 of the rod 11 can be compared with the length L2 of the rib 211 (i.e., the length of the protrusion 211 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod 11). For ease of visualization, one end of the rib 211 is aligned with the end of the rod 11 (represented by the transverse dashed line 19), although this is generally not necessarily the case. To substantially improve aerosol generation by compressing the aerosol-generating substrate, the length L2 is preferably at least 50%, more preferably 60% to 70%, of L1 (or of the length of a given section containing the aerosol-generating substrate, if that section is not the entire length L1 of the rod 11).

[0076] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation system similar to that shown in Figure 3, taken along a plane passing through the protrusion 211 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod portion 11. This plane corresponds to the dashed line X1 in Figure 3.

[0077] As shown in Figure 4, four protrusions 211 are symmetrically distributed around the inner periphery of the circular heating chamber 21. The heater 22 is positioned to surround the outside of the heating chamber 21 and supply heat symmetrically toward the center of the heating chamber 21. In this case, the elastic portion 12 of the consumable 1 is positioned at the center of the heating chamber 21 by the protrusions 211. Additionally, the elastic portion 12 is circular when uncompressed, but is locally deformed when positioned within the heating chamber 21. This is because the space between the ends of the protrusions 211 is smaller than the width of the elastic portion 12 when uncompressed.

[0078] The protrusions 211 have a rounded profile, such as may be formed when the sidewalls of the heating chamber 21 are bent to form the protrusions 211. (A corresponding depression 214 in the outer surface of the heating chamber 21, as shown in FIG. 3, has been omitted for simplicity.)

[0079] One specific example was configured to correspond to the heating chamber and consumable geometry shown in Figures 3 and 4. Referring to Figure 3, the rod portion 11 had a length L1 of 20 mm, and the distance L2 along the major axis between the platform 213 and the proximal end of the rib 211 was 8 mm. Referring to Figure 4, in the specific example, the rod portion had a width of 7.0 mm, and the heating chamber had a maximum inner diameter of 7.6 mm and four rounded protrusions with a maximum radial length (measured from the inner surface of the chamber) of 0.4 mm.

[0080] As explained above, the elastic portion 12 is the portion of the consumable that resists deformation when an external pressure is applied. Such resistance to deformation can be measured by comparing the strain of the elastic portion 12 for a given applied force. Figures 5A and 5B provide a schematic of strain measurement for a consumable.

[0081] Figure 5A shows a test fixture 3 for applying a predetermined force to an object between two surfaces 31 and 32. Test fixture 3 can be, for example, a clamp or a press. An actuator 33 applies a predetermined force to one of surfaces 31, as shown in Figure 5B, and moves surface 31 until the force is balanced by stresses within the object.

[0082] 5A and 5B, elastic portion 12 begins with a width W1 perpendicular to the long axis of bar 11. When a 10 mm bar sample including elastic portion 12 is subjected to a predetermined force perpendicular to the long axis of bar 11 at a rate of 50 mm / min in testing apparatus 3, elastic portion 12 has a width W2 and exhibits a strain ratio equal to (W1-W2) / W1.

[0083] Preferably, for a system according to the present invention, the elastic portion 12 exhibits a strain ratio (expressed in %) of less than 10%, more preferably between 1% and 8%, when subjected to compression with an applied force of 0.4 N in the configuration shown in FIG. 5B.

[0084] Additionally or alternatively, the elastic portion 12 preferably exhibits a strain ratio of less than 15%, more preferably between 5% and 14%, when subjected to compression with an applied force of 8N in the configuration shown in Figure 5B.

[0085] As an example, when a first consumable comprising a rod-shaped portion of reconstituted tobacco strands with a substrate density of about 0.3 and a paper wrapper is compressed with applied forces of 0.4 N and 8 N, the strain ratios are about 6% and 12%, respectively. When a second consumable comprising a rod-shaped portion of randomly oriented reconstituted tobacco strands with a substrate density of about 0.3 and a paper and aluminum wrapper is compressed with applied forces of 0.4 N and 8 N, the strain ratios are about 2.5% and 5.5%, respectively. By comparison, when a third consumable comprising an assemblage of reconstituted tobacco sheets with a substrate density of about 0.65 and a paper wrapper is compressed with applied forces of 0.4 N and 8 N, the strain ratios are about 10% and 15%, respectively. The third consumable has a lower ability to center itself in the heating chamber, resulting in a higher risk of displacement.

[0086] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an alternative aerosol generation system in which the heating chamber 21 has three protrusions 211, rather than four as in the example described above. Additionally, rather than the rounded protrusions 211 shown in FIG. 4, the protrusions in this alternative have straight sides. Depending on the technique used to manufacture the heating chamber 21, the straight sides may be easier to manufacture than curved sides. Nevertheless, as shown in FIG. 6, a positioning element can engage the elastic portion 12 to position the consumable within the chamber. Additionally, as in the example of FIG. 4, the elastic portion 12 is compressed where it engages the protrusions 211 and bulges between the protrusions 211. However, in this case, the deformation is less localized and is spread across the entire surface of the elastic portion 12. More generally, the heating chamber 21 may have any number of protrusions 211 extending from the sidewall and distributed around the inner circumference of the heating chamber 21, and each of the protrusions 211 may have any cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in addition to having different shapes parallel to the longitudinal axis as shown in Figures 1A and 1B.

[0087] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an alternative aerosol generation system in which the heating chamber 21 and resilient portion 12 are generally square rather than circular. In polygonal heating chambers, or generally, heating chambers with partially curved and partially flat sidewalls, the above-described advantages of the protrusions 211 are equally applicable when the consumable is positioned and can be subjected to pressure for increased heating efficiency, improved aerosol generation, and airflow through the consumable. Similarly, the resilient portion 12 need not be circular in cross section when uncompressed, but can have any shape that can be positioned using appropriately sized and positioned protrusions 211. In the example of FIG. 7, the resilient portion 12 is rectangular when uncompressed, with four sides that are compressed where the resilient portion 12 engages the protrusions 211 and four sides that bulge between the protrusions 211, but the bulging portions are also restrained by rectangular corners formed in the resilient portion (e.g., corners formed in the package).

[0088] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an alternative aerosol generation system in which the heater 22 is positioned on one particular side of a rectangular heating chamber 21. In such an asymmetric configuration of the heater 22, positioning the elastic portion 12 in the center of the heating chamber 21 does not result in the most efficient heating of the aerosol-generating substrate, and the rod-shaped portion 11 is preferably positioned against that particular side of the heating chamber 21. In this case, only two protrusions 211 are included, and the two protrusions 211 are positioned to extend inward from the side of the heating chamber 21 opposite the particular side on which the heater 22 is positioned. Furthermore, because the protrusions 211 only need to apply pressure parallel to the particular side, the protrusions can have a simple rectangular cross-section. More generally, it can be understood that the protrusions 211 can be preferably distributed differently around the inner periphery of the heating chamber 21 according to the expected temperature distribution based on the location of the heater 22 and the shape of the chamber 21.

[0089] 8, in this case the position of the elastic portion 12 between the remaining two sides of the heating chamber 21 is less important since the heater 22 extends across a particular side. In such a case, the rod portion 11 can be allowed to move freely within the chamber without being unnecessarily positioned by the additional protrusion 211 between the remaining two sides.

[0090] 9 is an example of an exemplary temperature profile of the heating chamber when generating an aerosol, with heating temperature (in degrees Celsius) shown on the y-axis and time (in arbitrary units) shown on the x-axis. The heating temperature can be measured in the heater 22 or heating chamber, for example, using a temperature sensor or using the thermistor characteristics of the heater 22.

[0091] In this example, the aerosol-generation period includes a temperature-rise phase t1, during which the heating temperature is increased to at least the aerosol-generating temperature T2. The length of the temperature-rise phase t1 can be predetermined or can be until the aerosol-generating temperature T2 is reached. In another example, the temperature-rise phase t1 can continue until feedback from the temperature sensor 13 indicates that the aerosol-generating temperature T2 has been reached. The aerosol-generating temperature T2 is selected based on the type of aerosol-generating substrate and is the temperature at which the aerosol is generated by heating the aerosol-generating substrate. As shown in FIG. 3, the heater temperature is increased above the aerosol-generating temperature T2, which is the lower limit for aerosol generation. In an example in which the aerosol-generating substrate includes tobacco and an aerosol-forming agent, it has been found that 190°C is a suitable value for T2, and that continuing to heat the aerosol-generating substrate to 230°C-260°C improves aerosol generation.

[0092] A temperature maintenance phase t2 then occurs, during which the heating temperature is maintained. While the temperature is shown as plateauing, it may vary around the desired temperature. For example, the temperature may be maintained using pulse width modulation (PWM) control of the heater. During this time, aerosol may be extracted from the aerosol-generating substrate with one or more puffs. In an example where the aerosol-generating substrate includes tobacco and an aerosol-forming agent, 4 minutes and 10 seconds has been found to be an exemplary suitable length for t2.

[0093] Finally, a temperature reduction phase t3 occurs in which the heating temperature is allowed to fall below the aerosol-generation temperature T2. Controlling the cooling rate may be advantageous, for example, for cleaning the heating chamber after use, but generally no power is supplied to the heater during the temperature reduction phase. The duration of the temperature reduction phase t3 is generally not constrained, and the temperature reduction phase may optionally be interrupted by the start of the next aerosol-generation period. However, in some embodiments, a minimum duration t3 may be set, e.g., 20 seconds.

[0094] In one example, such a temperature profile, in combination with pressure applied by the protrusions, particularly by continuing to heat the aerosol-generating substrate to 230°C-260°C during vaping, was found to improve nicotine delivery from the tobacco substrate by 50%, in one case increasing nicotine delivery from 0.462 mg per rod to 0.708 mg per rod. At the same time, when the aerosol-forming agent was vegetable glycerin, it was found to increase glycerin delivery from 2.843 mg per rod to 4.718 mg per rod, thus substantially increasing the amount of aerosol produced.

[0095] The tobacco rod was inserted into a Borgwaldt automatic smoking machine under conditions of room temperature 22°C, relative humidity 60%, air velocity 0.2 m / s, and Health Canada's concentrated smoking method (puff volume 55 cc / 2 s, puff time 2 s, puff interval 30 s, and 8 puffs). The air dilution holes were not closed. The end of the tobacco rod was placed in the automatic smoking machine, and the machine was turned on. The first puff was taken when the completion of preheating was detected by a signal (vibration) from the machine. Thereafter, puffs were taken at 30 s intervals. A Cambridge filter (Borgwaldt, 400 Filter 44 mm) was used to capture particulate matter in mainstream smoke. The amount of TPM (total particulate matter) was calculated from the weight change of the Cambridge filter. After extraction with 10 mL of isopropanol by shaking for 20 minutes, the levels of moisture, nicotine, and glycerin were measured using GC-FID / TCD (6890N, Agilent).

[0096] 1A, consumable 1 includes filter 14 that can be used by a user as a mouthpiece for inhaling the generated aerosol. However, in other embodiments, the consumable may not be designed for a user to directly inhale the aerosol. For example, consumable 1 may be entirely enclosed within device 2 that generates aerosol and provides the aerosol through a separate outlet or mouthpiece.

[0097] In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis of the entire consumable 1 may be different from the longitudinal axis of the wand portion 11 that is inserted into the heating chamber 21. For example, the consumable 1 may include additional features that are not designed to fit within the heating chamber 21. In such cases, the longitudinal axis of the wand portion 11 is the axis associated with the specific placement of the elastic portion 12.

[0098] The term "heater" should be understood to mean any device for outputting sufficient thermal energy to form an aerosol from an aerosol substrate. The transfer of thermal energy from the heater 54 to the aerosol substrate can be conductive, convective, radiative, or any combination of these means. As a non-limiting example, a conductive heater may be in direct contact with the aerosol substrate, pressing against it, or may be in contact with a separate component, such as a heating chamber, that itself causes heating of the aerosol substrate by conduction, convection, and / or radiation.

[0099] The heater may be electrically powered, combustion powered, or powered by any other suitable means. Electrically powered heaters may include resistive track elements (optionally including insulating packaging), induction heating systems (e.g., including electromagnets and high frequency oscillators), etc. The heater 54 may be positioned around the outside of the aerosol substrate, may penetrate partway or completely into the aerosol substrate, or any combination thereof. For example, instead of the heaters of the embodiments described above, the aerosol generating device may have a blade-type heater that extends into the aerosol substrate within the heating chamber.

[0100] The term "temperature sensor" is used to describe an element capable of determining the absolute or relative temperature of a portion of the aerosol generating device 2. This may include a thermocouple, a thermopile, a thermistor, etc. The temperature sensor may be provided as part of another component or may be a separate component. In some examples, multiple temperature sensors may be provided, for example, to monitor the heating of various portions of the aerosol generating device 2, e.g., to determine a thermal profile. Alternatively, in some examples, a temperature sensor is not included. For example, this is possible when a temperature profile is already reliably established and the temperature can be estimated based on the operation of the heater 22.

[0101] The aerosol-generating substrate includes tobacco, e.g., in dried or cured form, optionally with additional ingredients for flavor or to provide a smoother or more satisfying experience. In some examples, a substrate such as tobacco can be treated with a vaporizer. The vaporizer can improve vapor production from the substrate. The vaporizer can include, for example, a polyol such as glycerol or a glycol such as propylene glycol. In some cases, the substrate may be free of tobacco or even nicotine and instead may contain natural or artificial ingredients to provide flavor, volatility, improved smoothness, and / or other satisfying effects. The substrate can be provided as a solid or paste-type material in shredded, pelleted, powdered, granular, strip, or sheet form, optionally a combination thereof. Alternatively, the aerosol substrate can be a liquid or gel.

[0102] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating device 2 may be referred to as a "heated tobacco device," "heated-not-burn tobacco device," "device for vaporizing tobacco products," etc., and is to be construed as a device suitable for achieving these effects. The features disclosed herein are equally applicable to devices designed to vaporize any aerosol substrate.

[0103] The aerosol generation device 2 can be configured to receive the aerosol substrate within a pre-packaged substrate carrier. The substrate carrier can generally resemble a cigarette, with a tubular region having the aerosol substrate arranged in a suitable configuration. Some designs can also include filters, vapor collection regions, cooling regions, and other structures. An outer layer of paper or other flexible planar material, such as foil, can also be provided, for example, to hold the aerosol substrate in place and further resemble a cigarette. The substrate carrier can fit within the heating chamber 11 or can be longer than the heating chamber 11, such that the lid 25 remains open while the aerosol generation device 2 is equipped with the substrate carrier. In such embodiments, the aerosol can be provided directly from the substrate carrier, which serves as a mouthpiece for the aerosol generation device.

[0104] As used herein, the term "fluid" shall be construed as generically describing a type of non-solid material that is capable of flowing, including, but not limited to, liquids, pastes, gels, powders, etc. Accordingly, a "fluidized material" shall be construed as a material that is inherently fluid or a material that has been modified to behave as a fluid. Fluidization may include, but is not limited to, powdering, dissolving in a solvent, gelling, thickening, thinning, etc.

[0105] As used herein, the term "volatile" refers to a substance that can be readily changed from a solid or liquid state to a gaseous state. As a non-limiting example, a volatile substance may have a boiling or sublimation temperature near room temperature at ambient pressure. Thus, "volatilize" or "volatilize" shall be interpreted to mean to cause (a material) to volatilize and / or to evaporate or disperse into a vapor.

[0106] As used herein, the term "vapour" (or "vapor") means: (i) a form into which a liquid is spontaneously transformed by the action of a sufficient degree of heat, or (ii) liquid / moisture particles suspended in the atmosphere and visible as a cloud of steam / smoke, or (iii) a fluid that fills space like a gas but can be liquefied by pressure alone when below a critical temperature.

[0107] Consistent with this definition, the term "vaporize" (or "vaporize") means: (i) to change or cause to change into vapor, and (ii) when a particle changes physical state (i.e., from a liquid or solid to a gaseous state).

[0108] As used herein, the term "atomize" (or "atomize") shall mean: (i) to change (a substance, especially a liquid) into very small particles or droplets, and (ii) where the particles remain in the same physical state (liquid or solid) as they were before atomization.

[0109] As used herein, the term "aerosol" shall mean a system of particles dispersed in air or gas, such as a mist, fog, or smoke. Accordingly, the term "aerosolize" (or "aerosolize") means to make into an aerosol and / or to disperse as an aerosol. Note that the meaning of aerosol / aerosolize is consistent with each of the above definitions of volatilize, atomize, and vaporize. For the avoidance of doubt, aerosol is used consistently to describe a mist or droplets comprising atomized, volatilized, or vaporized particles. Aerosol also includes a mist or droplets comprising any combination of atomized, volatilized, or vaporized particles.

Claims

1. 1. An aerosol generating system comprising: a consumable article including a wand containing an aerosol-generating substrate; a heating chamber including a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending around a periphery of the heating chamber between the first end and the second end, the heating chamber configured to receive the wand portion of the consumable; a heater configured to deliver heat from the sidewall to the heating chamber; Including, the width of the heating chamber is greater than the width of the rod-shaped portion; the consumable includes a resilient portion about a longitudinal axis of the rod portion; the heating chamber further includes a plurality of inward protrusions extending from the sidewall and distributed about an inner periphery of the heating chamber; the protrusion is configured to engage and apply pressure to the resilient portion to position the consumable within the heating chamber. Aerosol generation systems.

2. The aerosol generation system of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is configured symmetrically about the longitudinal axis to assist in positioning the consumable in the center of the heating chamber.

3. 3. The aerosol generation system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first end of the heating chamber is open to receive the rod-shaped portion, and the second end of the heating chamber is closed.

4. An aerosol generation system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the consumable exhibits a strain ratio of less than 10% when the elastic portion is compressed with a force of 0.4 N perpendicular to the long axis of the rod-shaped portion.

5. An aerosol generation system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the consumable exhibits a strain ratio of less than 15% when the elastic portion is compressed with a force of 8 N perpendicular to the long axis of the rod-shaped portion.

6. 6. The aerosol generation system of claim 5, wherein the consumable exhibits a strain ratio of 1% to 8% when the elastic portion is compressed perpendicular to the long axis of the rod-shaped portion with a force of 0.4 N.

7. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rod-shaped portion comprises a wrapper surrounding the substrate, and the elastic portion comprises a portion of the wrapper.

8. The aerosol generating system of claim 7 , wherein the packaging comprises cellulose paper or cellulose paper laminated with aluminum foil.

9. The aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the substrate comprises tobacco.

10. 10. The aerosol generating system of claim 9, wherein the substrate comprises randomly oriented tobacco strands comprising tobacco powder and an aerosol forming agent.

11. The tobacco strands have a density of 0.3 mg / mm ３ ~0.6 mg / mm ３ 11. The aerosol generating system of claim 10, having a substrate density of

12. 12. The aerosol generating system of claim 10 or 11, wherein the substrate comprises, based on the total weight of the substrate, 60 to 85% by weight of a tobacco thin layer, 8 to 20% by weight of an aerosol-forming agent, and 5 to 15% by weight of a filler.

13. 10. The aerosol generating system of claim 9, wherein the substrate is a compressed tobacco substrate having a soft granular texture or a mousse.

14. 14. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the heater is configured to heat the interior of the heating chamber to at least 190°C.

15. 15. The aerosol generation system of claim 14, wherein the heater is configured to heat the interior of the heating chamber to between 230°C and 260°C.

16. 16. The aerosol generating system of claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the heater is configured to maintain the interior of the heating chamber at a temperature of at least 190°C for a predetermined period of continuous puffing.

17. An aerosol generation system as described in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the protrusion is a rib extending along the side wall parallel to the long axis of the rod-shaped portion when the rod-shaped portion is received in the heating chamber.

18. 18. The aerosol generation system of claim 17, wherein the substrate is positioned within a predetermined section of the rod-shaped portion extending along the longitudinal axis, and the length of the rib is at least 50% of the length of the predetermined section.

19. 19. The aerosol generation system of claim 18, wherein the length of the rib is between 60% and 70% of the length of the given section.

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