Aerosol generating device with vacuum insulation

Abstract

Disclosed is an aerosol generating device (100) comprising a cavity (106) capable of receiving an aerosol forming substance (12), a heater (108) configured to heat the aerosol forming substance (12) received in the cavity (106), and a vacuum insulation material (110) disposed around the heater (108), the vacuum insulation material (110) having an outer surface (112) that is an outer surface of the aerosol generating device (110) that can be held by a user during use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device. In particular, the present invention relates to an aerosol generating device having a vacuum insulation material.

Background Art

[0002] Aerosol generating devices are typically carried around daily by users. Therefore, there is a need for lighter and more compact aerosol generating devices. In addition, it is desirable that the aerosol generating device can be made as efficient as possible, thereby extending the battery life and thus enhancing the convenience for the user. The object of the present invention is to address these conflicting requirements.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generating device configured to generate an aerosol for a user to inhale, comprising: a cavity capable of receiving an aerosol-forming substance; a heater configured to heat the aerosol-forming substance received in the cavity; and a vacuum insulation material provided around the heater, wherein an outer surface of the vacuum insulation material is an outer surface of the aerosol generating device that can be held by the user during use.

[0004] In this way, the vacuum insulation material can provide effective insulation to the heater, reducing the amount of heat lost to the environment. It has been found that the vacuum insulation material can be exposed to the user at least partially without significantly impairing its ability to efficiently insulate the heater. By having the outer surface of the vacuum insulation material as the outer surface of the aerosol generating device, the vacuum insulation material can also function as an outer casing that protects and shields the internal components of the device from the user. In this way, the need for a complete, separate outer casing is partially or entirely eliminated, and therefore a lighter and more compact aerosol generating device can be provided. The vacuum insulation material may be exposed to the user only partially; in other words, the outer surface of the vacuum insulation material may be only a part of the outer surface of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, the outer surface of the vacuum insulation material may be fully exposed to the user, so that the entire outer surface becomes the outer surface of the aerosol generating device.

[0005] In some embodiments, the aerosol generating device comprises an outer casing that partially encloses the vacuum insulation. In this way, the vacuum insulation can have an outer surface that is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device, and the device becomes easier to manufacture and assemble. Partially enclosing the vacuum insulation with an outer casing can improve the heat insulation efficiency of the heater. In one exemplary embodiment, the vacuum insulation may be exposed to the external environment through a single continuous gap or opening within the outer casing. In another example, the vacuum insulation may be exposed through multiple openings or gaps in the outer casing such that the outer surface of the vacuum insulation becomes the outer surface of the aerosol generating device between the openings or gaps.

[0006] In other embodiments, the vacuum insulation material may not be surrounded by the outer casing, but instead may be provided such that its outer surface, which is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device, is externally flush with the outer casing.

[0007] Preferably, the outer surface of the vacuum insulation material is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device, substantially around its entire circumference. In this way, the diameter of the aerosol generating device can be reduced along at least a portion of the device's cross-section, making the device lighter and more compact.

[0008] Preferably, the outer surface of the vacuum insulation material is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device along substantially the entire length of the aerosol generating device. In this way, the outer casing of the aerosol generating device can be reduced, making the device lighter and more compact.

[0009] Preferably, the vacuum insulation material includes a metal. Since metallic vacuum insulation materials are particularly efficient, using them allows a large portion of the vacuum insulation material to be exposed to the user without compromising the efficiency of the aerosol generating device. In other embodiments, the vacuum insulation material may include any suitable material known in the art.

[0010] Preferably, the aerosol generating device is configured to receive a consumable containing tobacco in a cavity. The consumable may be in the form of a rod. The aerosol generating device may be a non-combustion heating device. When the consumable contains tobacco, the installation of vacuum insulation may be particularly important because high temperatures are required to generate aerosol from the tobacco. In other embodiments, the aerosol generating device may be configured to receive a refillable or disposable cartridge containing an aerosol generating fluid.

[0011] Preferably, the vacuum insulation material has an annular cylindrical shape. In this way, the vacuum insulation material can completely enclose the heater, thereby providing a more effective means of insulation.

[0012] Here, an embodiment of the present invention will be described as an example with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device in an embodiment of the present invention. An aerosol generating device 100 is provided, which includes an outer casing 102 that partially houses the internal components of the aerosol generating device 100. The outer casing 102 has an opening 104 to a cavity 106 configured to receive consumables 10. The consumables 10 include a cigarette 12 and a filter 14, both of which may be held together by a chipping wrapper 16. A heater 108 is provided in the cavity 106 and is configured to heat the consumables 10 when received in the cavity 106 to generate an aerosol. A vacuum insulator 110 is provided around the heater 108 and has an annular cylindrical shape with an outer surface 112 and an inner surface 114, between which a vacuum 116 is enclosed. The outer casing 102 has an opening 118 that extends along its entire circumference substantially along the entire length of the aerosol generating device. The opening 118 partially exposes the outer surface 112 to the user, so that the outer surface 112 of the vacuum insulation material 110 becomes the outer surface of the aerosol generating device 100. The aerosol generating device 100 also includes a controller (not shown) for controlling the operation of the aerosol generating device 100, a button (not shown) for receiving instructions from the user, an air inlet (not shown) that is in fluid communication with the cavity 106, and a battery (not shown) for supplying power to the aerosol generating device 100. The controller and battery are electrically connected to the button and heater 108 via wires.

[0015] The outer casing 102 may include any suitable material known in the art. The aerosol generating device 100 extends along the longitudinal direction, and the cavity 106 also extends along the longitudinal direction.

[0016] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the heater 108 is provided as a film heater capable of resistance heating or induction heating. In an alternative embodiment, the heater 108 may be provided as any suitable heater capable of heating the consumable 10 in the cavity 106 to generate an aerosol. The heater 108 may be provided as one or more curved heating films extending substantially around the entire circumference of the cavity 106. Alternatively, the heater 108 may be provided as one or more substantially flat heating films or plates positioned at spaced intervals around the cavity 106. The heater 108 may be configured to contact the consumable 10 received in the cavity 106 so that the consumable 10 is held in the cavity 106 by friction against the heater 108. The heater 108 may be fixed to the inner surface 114 of the vacuum insulation material 110 by one or more mechanical couplings. Alternatively, the heater 108 may be held within the cavity 106 by a support structure attached to the outer housing 102.

[0017] In other embodiments, the cavity 106 and heater 108 may be configured to receive and heat other forms of consumables known in the art, respectively. For example, the cavity 106 may be configured to receive a consumable cartridge comprising a reservoir containing an aerosol-generating fluid, and the heater 108 may be configured to provide heating to the consumable when received into the cavity 106. In such cases, the vacuum insulation material 110 and the cavity 106 may be appropriately molded so that the cartridge can be received into the cavity 106, heated by the heater 108, and insulated by the vacuum insulation material 110.

[0018] The vacuum insulation material 110 has an annular cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section. The vacuum insulation material 110 is hollow and seals a vacuum 116 between a curved inner surface 114, a curved outer surface 112, and two flat surfaces 115 connecting the inner surface 114 and the outer surface 112. In other embodiments, the vacuum insulation material 110 may have other shapes. For example, the vacuum insulation material 110 may have a square or polygonal cross-section. In other embodiments, the vacuum insulation material 110 may be provided as two or more vacuum insulation materials, for example, semicircular or flat vacuum insulation materials, surrounding the heater 108. In such embodiments, two or more vacuum insulation materials can collectively surround and insulate the heater 108.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, toward the first end 120 and the second end 122 of the aerosol generating device 100, the vacuum insulation material 110 is partially surrounded by an outer casing 102 that partially covers the outer surface 112 of the vacuum insulation material 110. The vacuum insulation material 110 may be mechanically attached to the outer casing 102 by one or more mechanical couplings. The vacuum insulation material 110 may be a high-performance metallic vacuum insulation material. In other embodiments, the vacuum insulation material 110 may include other suitable materials.

[0020] The opening 118 of the outer casing 102 extends substantially along the entire longitudinal length of the aerosol generating device 100 and along the entire outer circumference of the aerosol generating device 100. In other exemplary embodiments, the opening 118 may be smaller so as to reduce the portion of the outer surface 112 of the vacuum insulation material 110 that is exposed and visible to the user. Alternatively, the outer casing 102 may have multiple openings that allow the outer surface 112 of the vacuum insulation material 110 to be visible and exposed to the user.

[0021] The controller may be housed within the outer casing 102 and comprises memory and a processor for storing and executing commands to control various operations of the aerosol generating device 100. An air inlet is provided as an opening within the outer casing 102 toward the first end 120 of the aerosol generating device 100, allowing the user to draw in air through the cavity 106 via the filter 14. A button may also be provided on the outer surface of the outer casing 102 to receive user input. Alternatively, any other input mechanism, such as a fingerprint sensor, may be provided to receive user input.

[0022] Here, with reference to Figure 1, an exemplary use of the aerosol generating device 100 will be described. During use, the user can insert the consumable 10 into the cavity 106 through the opening 104. The heater 108 holds the consumable 10 in place within the cavity 106 by friction. This contact between the heater 108 and the consumable 10 also enhances the efficiency of heat transfer to the tobacco 12 within the consumable 10. When the user is ready to begin evaporation, they can press a button, which triggers the controller to turn on the heater 108. The heater 108 heats the air and tobacco 12 within the cavity 106, but the vacuum 116 within the vacuum insulation 110 significantly prevents heat leakage from the cavity 106 by conduction and convection. Thus, the cavity 106, heater 108, and vacuum insulation 110 form an oven that can heat the tobacco 12 within the consumable 10 to the desired temperature. The controller may be configured to instruct the heater 108 to heat the tobacco to a temperature lower than the tobacco's combustion temperature. As the tobacco 12 heats up, an aerosol is generated in the cavity 106. The user can inhale the aerosol by drawing air in through the air inlet via the filter 14, creating an airflow through the cavity 106 and carrying the aerosol to the user.

[0023] The outer surface 112 of the vacuum insulation material 110 is exposed to the user through an opening 118 such that the outer surface 112 becomes the outer surface of the aerosol generating device 100 that the user can hold during use. Therefore, the aerosol generating device 100 is lighter and more compact than if the outer casing 102 completely covered the outer surface 112. The vacuum insulation material 110 provides sufficient insulation to the heater 108 and the heated air in the cavity 106 so that the efficiency of the aerosol generating device 100 is not significantly affected by the opening 118. The opening 118 extends around the entire circumference substantially along the entire length of the aerosol generating device 100, thus reducing the diameter of the aerosol generating device 100. This makes the aerosol generating device 100 more convenient for the user to store and carry.

Claims

1. an aerosol generating device configured to produce an aerosol for a user to inhale, A cavity capable of accepting aerosol-forming substances, A heater configured to heat the aerosol-forming material received in the cavity, A vacuum insulation material is provided around the heater, An outer casing having one or more openings, Equipped with, The outer surface of the vacuum insulation material forms at least a portion of the outer surface of the aerosol generating device which is directly held by the user during use. The outer surface of the vacuum insulation material is exposed through one or more openings in the outer casing. Aerosol generating device.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the vacuum insulating material is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device, extending substantially around the entire circumference of the aerosol generating device.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the vacuum insulating material is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device along substantially the entire length of the aerosol generating device.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum insulating material contains a metal.

5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, configured to accept consumables including tobacco into the cavity.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum insulating material has an annular cylindrical shape.

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