Aerosol generating device

Abstract

An aerosol generating device is provided, and such aerosol generating device comprises a tubular heating chamber for heating an aerosol generating material contained within a chamber, an insulating tube at least partially sleeved around the tubular heating chamber, and at least one annular support for supporting the heating chamber within the insulating tube. At least a portion of the inner annular support is mounted within the insulating tube, and the heating chamber is at least partially mounted within the annular support.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] The popularity and use of reduced-risk or improved-risk devices (also known as vaporizers) as aids to assist habitual smokers in quitting conventional tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco, have grown rapidly over the past few years. In contrast to burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products, various devices and systems that heat or warm aerosol materials can be utilized.

[0002] Generally available devices with reduced or improved risk are heating substrate aerosol generating devices or non-combustion heating devices. These types of devices generate aerosols or vapors by heating an aerosol substrate, typically comprising moist leaf tobacco or other suitable aerosolic materials, to a temperature typically ranging from 150°C to 300°C. Heating the aerosol substrate without burning or combusting it releases an aerosol that contains the components desired by the user but does not contain the toxic and carcinogenic byproducts that occur when burning and combusting. Additionally, the aerosols generated by heating tobacco or other aerosolic materials generally do not contain the burnt or bitter taste resulting from burning and combustion that may be unpleasant to the user, and therefore such materials do not require sugars and other additives typically added to such materials to produce smoke and / or vapors that are more palatable to the user.

[0003] In such aerosol generating devices, the aerosol material must be heated by a heater, and it is inevitable that some heat leaks from the heater to the rest of the aerosol generating device. This heat can damage other components, such as the heater's power supply or heat-sensitive electronics. In some cases, if components designed not to be heated become too hot, this can even pose a risk of fire or explosion. Furthermore, this heat leakage can result in the device's outer surface becoming too hot for a user to comfortably hold, and if left unchecked, it can even damage the user's skin.

[0004] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a device with improved safety and reliability while maintaining or improving the various advantages associated with such non-combustion heating devices. means of solving the problem

[0005] According to a first embodiment, an aerosol generating device is provided comprising a heater assembly and a frame configured to support the heater assembly, wherein the heater assembly comprises: a tubular heating chamber for heating an aerosol generating material contained within the chamber; an insulating tube at least partially sleeved around the tubular heating chamber; and at least one annular support for supporting the heating chamber within the insulating tube, wherein at least a portion of the annular support is mounted within the insulating tube, the heating chamber is at least partially mounted within the annular support, and the annular support is positioned at one end of the insulating tube and configured to be mounted on the frame.

[0006] By mounting the annular support in this manner, the aerosol generating device can effectively heat the aerosol generating material contained within the chamber while reducing heat leakage from the chamber. The annular support provides a reliable structure that maintains the heating chamber within the insulating tube and the heater assembly against the frame, thereby increasing the safety and reliability of the device and reducing the level of heat transferred from the heating chamber to the rest of the device, particularly to the surface of the device.

[0007] In particular, the annular support may include one or more protrusions extending into an insulating tube to be coupled with the outer surface of the heating chamber. The protrusions may provide an area of ​​reduced surface area, and accordingly, the connection points between the annular support and the heating chamber may be reduced. By minimizing the physical direct contact required between the annular support and the heating chamber, heat transfer from the chamber to the support, and ultimately to the rest of the device, can be further reduced.

[0008] Preferably, the heating chamber is at least partially mounted within a portion of an annular support mounted within the insulating tube. In such a case, the annular support may provide a portion inserted between the insulating tube and the heating chamber to support the heating chamber within the insulating tube, and such same support portion is in contact with the insulating tube and the heating chamber.

[0009] Preferably, the heater assembly may include annular supports at each end of the insulating tube. Most preferably, the heater assembly may not have any annular supports among those located at each end of the insulating tube. Consequently, possible heat transfer to the rest of the device, particularly to the outer housing, can be reduced. A relatively free space between the insulating tube and the outer housing can be formed in this way, and such free space can provide more efficient insulation against heat that could be transferred to the outer surface of the insulating tube by the annular supports. Heat transfer is also limited because the annular supports are positioned at the ends of the heater assembly, as such zones are heated less than the more central zone of the heating chamber.

[0010] In a possible mode, the internal annular support may have a C-shaped cross section. By having an annular cross section that does not form a complete or closed circumferential line, not only can the material required for further reduction of heat transfer be reduced, but manufacturing costs can also be reduced.

[0011] In particular, at least one annular support within the device as previously defined may be an outer annular support that is coupled to the outer surface of the insulating tube. The at least one outer annular support provides a structure coupled to the outer surface of the insulating tube, and the outer annular support may support the insulating tube as a whole within the device. For example, the outer annular support may provide support that allows the insulating tube to be held against a casing or frame within the device. Additionally, the outer annular support may provide a form of direct or indirect connection between a component of the inner part of the insulating tube, for example, a heating chamber and the outer surface of the insulating tube.

[0012] The outer annular support may have a structure identical or similar to that of other annular supports. Optionally, the outer annular support may include a first support component and a second component, wherein the first support component is coupled to a portion of the outer surface of the insulating tube; the second support component is coupled to a portion of the outer surface of the heating chamber within the insulating tube; and the first support component and the second support component are coupled to each other at one or more contact points. By forming the outer annular support with two or more separate components coupled at contact points, heat transfer from the heating chamber to the insulating tube may be reduced. The contact points may be designed to reduce or minimize heat transfer between the two components. The contact points may be any one of points, lines, arcs, or sections of the annular form. That is, the first support component and the second support component may be coupled to each other along a contact line.

[0013] In particular, at least one annular support may be an inner annular support that contacts only the inner surface of the insulating tube. By joining the insulating tube to the inner surface of the tube, the inner annular support can provide a structure that reduces heat transfer from the chamber to the outer part of the tube. This arrangement can also increase the potential air gap between the insulating tube and the outer housing.

[0014] In particular, the device may include a first annular support located at a first end of the insulating tube and a second annular support located at a second end of the insulating tube. The device may include an inner annular support located at a first end of the insulating tube and an outer annular support located at a second end of the insulating tube. The device may include at least one outer annular support at each end of the insulating tube. The device may include at least one inner annular support at each end of the insulating tube. By including (inner, outer, or other) annular supports at the ends of the insulating tube in any of the aforementioned ways, more reliable structural support for the heating chamber and the insulating tube can be provided while minimizing heat transfer to the rest of the device.

[0015] Preferably, at least one annular support may include a connecting member for securing the heater assembly to the frame. By having a connecting member attached to or formed as part of the annular support, it is possible to prevent other components of the heater assembly (e.g., a heating chamber or an insulating tube) from coming into direct contact with the frame.

[0016] Although the connecting member may take any suitable form, preferably, the connecting member may include an opening positioned to receive one or more pins provided in the frame. The opening, or openings, enable the annular support to be connected to the frame through a slotting connection, and the pin provided in the frame may be slotted into the opening. The slotting connection itself may be a permanent connection, or alternatively, the connection may be made permanent by an adhesive or other means after the pin is slotted into the opening. It should be noted that the arrangement of the opening and the pin may be reversed in that the opening may be provided on the frame and the connecting member on the annular support may be an opening positioned to receive the pin. Alternatively, the annular support may include a combination of the opening and the pin that engages with the pin and the opening provided on the frame.

[0017] A heating chamber can provide heat to an aerosol generating material contained therein by any suitable means. Generally, heat can be provided by resistance heating, induction heating, or contact heating. Generally, an aerosol generating device may include a thin-film heater wrapped around the outer surface of a tubular heating chamber. The thin-film heater can provide a flexible yet effective heat source that can be applied to the tubular heating chamber in a safe and reliable manner.

[0018] A tubular heating chamber may include an open end for receiving an aerosol-generating material or a consumable containing an aerosol-generating material into the chamber, and a closed end forming a terminal base opposite to the open end. In other words, the tubular heating chamber may generally take the form of a hollow cylinder having one open end to provide an opening through which a user can place the aerosol-generating material, but otherwise, the opening is closed to provide a generally closed volume into which heat provided to the heating chamber is received. When the aerosol-generating material is inserted into the heating chamber, the placement of the aerosol-generating material may limit or close the open end of the heating chamber. In some examples, a consumable containing the aerosol-generating material may be provided in a generally cylindrical shape that matches the internal volume of the heating chamber.

[0019] Generally, at least one annular support may be formed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK). PEEK is a material with high temperature resistance that is ideal for use in components placed near a heat source. When used in components in direct contact with a heating component (e.g., a heating chamber), PEEK reduces heat conduction to other components within the device. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0020] Now, an exemplary aerosol generating device will be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings: FIG. 1a schematically illustrates an exemplary aerosol generating device in an assembled configuration. FIG. 1b schematically illustrates an exemplary aerosol generating device so that its internal components can be seen. FIG. 2a schematically illustrates a first drawing of an exemplary heating assembly. FIG. 2b schematically illustrates a second drawing of an exemplary heating assembly. FIG. 3a schematically illustrates an exemplary configuration of a heating assembly. FIG. 3b schematically illustrates an additional exemplary configuration of a heating assembly. FIG. 3c schematically illustrates an additional exemplary configuration of a heating assembly. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an exemplary heating assembly having an exemplary frame. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0021] An exemplary aerosol generating device (1) is generally illustrated in the assembled configuration shown in FIG. 1a. The device (1) comprises an outer housing (2) having a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion of the housing (2) has an opening (3), through which an aerosol-generating consumable can be inserted into the device (1).

[0022] Within the housing (2), the steam generating device (1) includes a battery (4) and a heater assembly (10). FIG. 1b illustrates an exemplary device (1) without an external housing (2). The battery (4) is operably connected to the heater assembly (10), and accordingly, the heater assembly (10) provides electric heating using power supplied from the battery (4). The device (1) generally includes means that allow a user to control the power supply from the battery (4) to the heater assembly (10) and to other components of the device. For example, in some examples, the device (1) includes a switch that can be operated to manually adjust the level of power supplied from the battery (4). In other examples, the device (1) includes a puffing detector that can be operated to detect when the user puffs from the device (1), and accordingly, power is supplied to the heater assembly (10) according to the timing of the user puffing. The battery (4), the heater assembly (10), and various other components of the device (1) are held in their proper positions within the housing (2) by the support structure (5).

[0023] When in use, the user holds the device (1) using the housing (2) and places a smokeable aerosol-generating consumable into or near the heating assembly of the device (1) through the opening (3). Then, the device (1) is operated by a switch or by a puffing action from the user to turn on the power supply from the battery (4) to the heating assembly (10), thereby heating the consumable in or near the heating assembly (10). The heat generated in the heating assembly (10) causes the consumable to heat up and release vapor that forms an aerosol. Then, the user can inhale the aerosol through the consumable itself or through the opening (3) of the device (1).

[0024] As noted above, the heater assembly (10) can often generate heat up to a high temperature to vaporize or aerosolize consumables within the device (1). The heater assembly (10) can generally reach about 150°C to about 300°C. The present invention reduces heat leakage from the heater assembly (10) to the housing (2) or other components of the device through careful design of the heater assembly (10) and surrounding structural components.

[0025] An exemplary heater assembly (10) is generally illustrated in the assembled configuration shown in FIG. 2a. The heater assembly (10) includes an insulating tube (11), a heating chamber (12), and an annular support (20) that holds the heating chamber (12) within the insulating tube (11) and holds the heater assembly against a support structure (5).

[0026] The insulating tube (11) is elongated and surrounds the heating chamber (12). The insulating tube (11) has an opening at one end that aligns with the opening (3) of the device (1) when assembled within the housing of the device (1). In this example, the tube (11) is open at both ends, but in another example, the tube (11) may have a closed end opposite to the end having the opening. The insulating tube (11) is positioned to insulate and contain the heat generated in the heating chamber (12), so that the heat is transferred more efficiently to the material contained within the heating chamber (12), and thus other components of the device (1) are less exposed to the heat generated in the heating chamber (12).

[0027] The heating chamber (12) is tubular and elongated and is positioned to accommodate a smokeable aerosol-generating consumable within its internal volume. The tubular heating chamber (12) has an open end (13), such open end (13) aligns with both the opening (3) and the open end of the insulating tube (11) when assembled within the insulating tube (11) and housing of the device (1). Thus, when the device is fully assembled, the internal volume of the chamber (12) can be accessed through the opening (3) and the open end of the tube (11).

[0028] A thin film heater (14) is wrapped around a heating chamber (12) and positioned to provide heat in the chamber (12). Specifically, the heater (14) is wrapped around at least a portion of the circumference of the outer shell of the tubular chamber (12) and positioned to provide heat to the internal volume of the chamber (12). FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary heater assembly (10), in which the heater (14) can be seen on the outer surface of the chamber (12). In this example, the thin film heater (14) includes a thin film circuit having a resistance heating element (15). The circuit including the heating element (15) is positioned to increase the surface area coverage of the heating element (15) across the surface of the chamber (12). As described above, the heating chamber (12) and, in particular, the heater (14) are connected to a power source (4) when assembled within the device (1).

[0029] The heating chamber (12) includes a heat-conducting material, such as metal, to conduct heat from the heater (14) to the chamber (12).

[0030] The thin film heater (14) can be wrapped around the outer surface of the heating chamber by a polyimide shrink wrap and held thereon. In another example, the thin film heater (14) can be attached to the outer surface of the heating chamber by other means, for example, by a heat-resistant adhesive.

[0031] The tubular heating chamber (12) is maintained within the insulating tube (11) by annular supports (20) provided at each end of the tube (11) in this example. The term "annular" is intended to mean that the support (20) has a generally annular cross-section having a generally circular cross-sectional contour having a central opening. The cross-sectional contour is generally complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the insulating tube or the cross-sectional shape of the heating chamber. The cross-sectional contour of the support (20) may be a perfect circle or an ellipsoid, or alternatively, the cross-sectional contour may be C-shaped, which means that the cross-sectional contour has a discontinuity at one or more points along the circumference.

[0032] In this exemplary heater assembly (10), there are two annular supports (20), one at each end of the insulating tube (11). Each annular support (20) includes a plurality of protrusions (21) extending into the insulating tube (11) to be coupled to the outer surface of the heating chamber (12). In this example, the heating chamber (12) is held within the tube (11) by the protrusions (21) that are coupled to the heating chamber (12) at the outer surface of each end of the chamber (12). The protrusions (21) may be annular or partially annular. Although the examples in FIGS. 2a and 2b show annular supports (20) located at the ends of the tube (11), in other examples, the heater assembly (10) includes annular supports (20) positioned along the central length of the insulating tube (11) so as to be entirely surrounded by the insulating tube (11).

[0033] By using an annular support (20) to maintain the heating chamber (12) within the insulating tube (11), an annular gap is created between the outer surface of the heating chamber (12) and the inner surface of the insulating tube (11). Thus, in addition to the insulating properties of the tube (11), the gap provides an additional insulating layer to reduce the amount of heat transferred from the chamber (12) to the rest of the device (1). Accordingly, the annular support (20) provides structural support to reliably maintain the heating chamber (12) within the insulating tube (11) and also provides additional insulating properties. The arrangement of the annular support (20) also provides very small coverage of the outer surface of the heater assembly (10), thereby allowing the large outer surface of the insulating tube to be surrounded by an air gap within the outer housing (2).

[0034] The annular support (20) illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b is positioned to be coupled with the inner surface of the insulating tube (11) and to be coupled with the outer surface of the heating chamber (12). In other examples, the annular support (20) may be provided to be coupled with different sections of the components of the heater assembly (10). FIGS. 3a through 3c illustrate various different arrangements and configurations of the annular support (20).

[0035] Referring to FIG. 3a, an exemplary heating assembly (10) is provided with annular supports (20) at each end of an insulating tube (11). In this example, one of the annular supports (20) is an outer annular support (23) that is coupled to the outer surface of the insulating tube (11). In this particular example, a portion of the outer annular support (23) is positioned on the outside of the insulating tube (11). As shown in FIG. 3a, the outer annular support (23) is positioned at the upper end of the insulating tube (11). The term 'upper end' is intended to refer to the end of the insulating tube (11) where the open end of the heating chamber (12) is positioned. In use, an aerosol-generating consumable is inserted at least partially into the chamber (12) through the upper end of the insulating tube (11). The annular support (20) located at the lower end of the tube (11), that is, at the end of the insulating tube opposite to the upper end, is an inner annular support (24) that contacts only the inner surface of the insulating tube (11).

[0036] The outer annular support (23) may be modular and may include two components: a first support component (23a) and a second support component (23b). As illustrated in FIG. 3a, the first support component (23a) is in contact with the outer surface of the heating chamber (12) to hold the chamber in place. In this example, the chamber (12) is held by the first support component (23a) at the edge of the upper end of the heating chamber (12). In another example, the first support component (23a) may be positioned to hold the chamber (12) differently, for example, by holding the chamber at the inner surface of the chamber (12), or by holding the chamber (12) at a defined distance from the edge of the upper end of the chamber (12).

[0037] The second support component (23b) is coupled to the first support component (23a) and also to the outer surface of the insulating tube (11). The second component (23b) is provided with an annular flange (27) that assists in inserting consumables into the chamber (12) during use. The flange (27) may also be used to provide a support structure or connection to other components within the device (1). The annular flange (27) may essentially extend axially to form a tubular extension aligned with the tubular heating chamber (12).

[0038] The first support component (23a) and the second support component (23b) are joined to each other at one or more contact points so as to be fixed to each other. Thus, the outer annular support (23) holds the heating chamber (12) against the insulating tube (11). The total surface area of ​​the contact points is minimized, thereby minimizing direct physical contact and, consequently, minimizing heat conduction between the first component (23a) and the second component (23b). In this way, heat conduction from the heating chamber (12) to the insulating tube (11) can be reduced, and thus heat insulation can be further improved. From the cross-sectional view of the example shown in FIG. 3a, it can be seen that the first and second components (23a, 23b) are in contact at preferably small contact points with only a reduced surface area. The contact points may be arranged around the circumference of the tube as distinct contact points, or as one or more arc-shaped lines or continuous lines.

[0039] As illustrated in this example, the inner annular support (24) is provided at the lower end of the insulating tube and includes an annular projection (21) extending into the insulating tube. The projection (21) of the inner annular support (24) holds the heating chamber (12) in place within the insulating tube (11).

[0040] The inner annular support (24) includes an outer collar (28). The outer collar (28) extends outward from the protrusion (21) and protrudes axially beyond the insulating tube, thereby allowing the heater assembly to be mounted on the frame (26). The inner support (24) preferably has a connecting member (25) for mounting the heater assembly (10) to the frame (26) within the device (1). Such a connecting member may extend radially from the collar (28), for example, in this example. The frame (26) may be part of or attached to a support structure (5) that holds a large number of components (e.g., battery, control circuit element board, sensor, etc.) within the device (1). Mounting the heater assembly (10) within the frame (26) is illustrated in FIG. 4 and will be described in more detail below. In this example, the inner annular support (24) is provided with a connecting member (25), but in another example, the connecting member (25) is provided on the outer annular support (23) instead of or in combination with the connecting member (25) on the inner annular support (24).

[0041] As described above, the example illustrated in FIG. 3a includes an outer annular support (23) located at the upper end of the insulating tube (11) and the heating chamber (12), and an inner annular support (24) located at the lower end of the insulating tube (11) and the heating chamber (12). Other examples having inner and outer annular supports of different arrangements and configurations are also possible. For example, FIG. 3b illustrates an exemplary heater assembly (10) comprising two outer annular supports (23). Each of the annular supports positioned at both ends of the insulating tube (11) holds the heating chamber (12) from the outside of the insulating tube (11). Similarly, the example illustrated in FIG. 3c includes two inner annular supports (24). The inner annular supports (24) extend into the insulating tube (11) and hold the heating assembly (12) from the inside of the insulating tube (11). In this example, the inner annular support (24) provided at the upper end of the insulating tube (11) is composed of two components in a manner similar to the outer annular support (23) of FIG. 3a. The first component (24a) of the inner annular support (24) is coupled to the heating chamber, while the second component (24b) of the inner annular support does not come into contact with any other component of the heater assembly (10). The first and second components are coupled along the contact point in a manner similar to the outer annular support (23) of FIG. 3a to minimize heat conduction.

[0042] As noted above, part or all of the annular support (20) of the heater assembly (10) may be provided with a connecting member (25) for securing the assembly (10) to the frame (26). The connecting member (25) generally includes one or more openings, each opening being positioned to receive a fixing pin from the frame (26). Accordingly, the connecting member (25) is positioned to secure the heater assembly (10) to the frame (5) by means of a slot and hole connection. As illustrated in FIG. 4, when assembling the device (1), the heater assembly (10) is positioned to be aligned with the geometry of the frame (26), and these two parts are connected by slotting the pin of the frame (26) into the opening (25) provided in the support (20). The intended slotting operation is illustrated by a dashed line in FIG. 4. When slotted in place, the connection between the pin of the frame (5) and the opening (25) of the heater assembly (10) is tight and strong enough to hold the assembly (10) against the frame (5). The frame (5) can be assembled with other components of the device (1) to achieve, for example, the device illustrated in FIG. 1a. In the present invention, the frame (26) is preferably an element independent of the outer housing, thereby reducing thermal and mechanical constraints in the housing. However, in a less preferred mode, the frame may be an integral internal part of the outer housing.

[0043] As can be understood from the foregoing, the present invention enables significantly improved heating performance by providing a heater assembly having an annular support capable of providing improved insulation between the heating chamber and the rest of the device. The ability to contain most of the generated heat within the heating chamber and / or insulating tube contributes to a substantial improvement in heating efficiency as well as an improvement in the overall safety of the device. With improved insulation capabilities, a device comprising the heater assembly as described above significantly reduces heat leakage through the device, which means that the components within the device are safer and less susceptible to damage, and that the outer casing of the device can be maintained at a low temperature that is comfortable for the user to hold. An aerosol generating device having improved heating performance and the aforementioned advantages, while still providing excellent heating and steam supply functions of the device, is achieved by the present invention.

[0044] Definition and Alternative Implementations:

[0045] It will be understood from the foregoing description that many features of the described embodiments have independent advantages and perform independent functions. Accordingly, in the embodiments of the invention defined in the claims, it may be independently chosen to include or omit each of these independent features.

[0046] 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 (14) to the aerosol substrate may be by conduction, convection, radiation, or any combination of these means. As a non-limiting example, the conductive heater may be in direct contact with and pressurized by the aerosol substrate, or may be in contact with a separate component, such as a heating chamber, which self-induced heating of the aerosol substrate by conduction, convection, and / or radiation.

[0047] The heater may be powered electrically, by combustion, or by any other suitable means. An electrically powered heater may include a resistive track element (optional including insulating packaging), an induction heating system (e.g., including an electromagnet and a high-frequency oscillator), etc. The heater (14) may be positioned around the outside of the aerosol substrate, and the heater may partially or completely penetrate into the aerosol substrate, or any combination thereof. For example, instead of the heater of the above-described embodiment, the aerosol generating device may have a blade-type heater extending into the aerosol substrate within the heating chamber.

[0048] The aerosol base comprises, for example, a dried or cured form of tobacco, having additional ingredients in some cases to add flavor, make it smoother, or otherwise provide a more pleasant experience. In some examples, the aerosol base, such as tobacco, may be treated with a vaporizing agent. The vaporizing agent may improve the generation of vapor from the aerosol base. The vaporizing agent may include, for example, a polyol such as glycerol, or a glycol such as propylene glycol. In some cases, the aerosol base may not contain tobacco or even nicotine, but instead may contain ingredients of natural or artificial origin to improve flavor, volatility, smoothness, and / or other pleasant effects. The aerosol base may be provided as a solid or paste-type material in the form of crushed, pelletized, powdered, granulated, strips, or sheets, or optionally a combination thereof. Likewise, the aerosol base may be a liquid or a gel. In practice, some examples may include both solid and liquid / gel portions.

[0049] Consequently, the aerosol generating device (1) may be referred to as a "heated tobacco device," a "non-combustion heated tobacco device," a "device for vaporizing tobacco products," etc., and is interpreted as a device suitable for achieving such effects. The features disclosed herein may be equally applied to any device designed to vaporize any aerosol material.

[0050] The aerosol generating device (1) may be positioned to receive an aerosol substrate within a pre-packaged substrate carrier. The substrate carrier may broadly resemble a cigarette and has a tubular region having an aerosol substrate positioned in a suitable manner. Filters, vapor collection regions, cooling regions, and other structures may also be included in some designs. For example, an outer layer of paper or other flexible flat material (e.g., foil) may also be provided to hold the aerosol substrate in place to make it more similar to a cigarette. The substrate carrier may be fitted within the heating chamber (12) or may be longer than the heating chamber (12). In such an example, the aerosol may be provided directly from the substrate carrier acting as a mouthpiece for the aerosol generating device.

[0051] As used herein, the term “volatile” means a substance that can be easily changed from a solid or liquid state to a gaseous state. By non-limiting example, a volatile substance may be a substance having a boiling temperature or sublimation temperature close to room temperature at ambient pressure. Accordingly, “volatilize or volatilize” should be interpreted as meaning to make (a material) volatile and / or evaporate or disperse into vapor.

[0052] As used herein, the term "vapor" (or "vapor") means: (i) a form in which a liquid is naturally converted by the action of a sufficient amount of heat; or (ii) particles of liquid or water that are suspended in the atmosphere and may appear as a cloud of water vapor or smoke; or (iii) a fluid that occupies space like a gas but can be liquefied by pressure alone below its critical temperature.

[0053] Similarly, the term "vaporize" (or "vaporize") means: (i) turning into vapor or causing a change into vapor; and (ii) changing the physical state of particles (i.e., from liquid or solid to a gaseous state).

[0054] As used herein, the term "aerosol" shall mean a system of particles dispersed in air or gas, such as mist, fog, or smoke. Accordingly, the term "aerosolize" (or "aerosolize") means to make into an aerosol and / or to disperse into an aerosol. It should be noted that the meaning of aerosol / aerosolization corresponds to volatilization, atomization, and vaporization, respectively, as defined above. To avoid doubt, aerosol is used to consistently describe a mist or droplet containing atomized, volatilized, or vaporized particles. Aerosol also includes a mist or droplet containing any combination of atomized, volatilized, or vaporized particles.

Claims

Claim 1 An aerosol generating device comprising a heater assembly and a frame configured to support the heater assembly, wherein the heater assembly comprises: a tubular heating chamber for heating an aerosol generating material contained within the chamber; an insulating tube that is at least partially sleeved around the tubular heating chamber; and at least one annular support for supporting the tubular heating chamber within the insulating tube, wherein at least a portion of the annular support is mounted within the insulating tube, the tubular heating chamber is at least partially mounted within the annular support, and the annular support is configured to be disposed at one end of the insulating tube and mounted on the frame. Claim 2 An aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the annular support comprises one or more protrusions extending into the insulating tube to be coupled with the outer surface of the tubular heating chamber. Claim 3 An aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heater assembly comprises an annular support at each end of the insulating tube. Claim 4 An aerosol generating device according to paragraph 3, wherein the heater assembly does not have any annular support between the annular supports at each end of the insulating tube. Claim 5 An aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one annular support is an outer annular support that is coupled to the outer surface of the insulating tube. Claim 6 An aerosol generating device according to claim 5, wherein the outer annular support comprises a first support component and a second support component, wherein the first support component is coupled to a portion of the outer surface of the insulating tube; the second support component is coupled to a portion of the outer surface of a heating chamber within the insulating tube; and the first support component and the second support component are coupled to each other at one or more contact points. Claim 7 In claim 6, the aerosol generating device wherein the first support component and the second support component are joined together along a contact line. Claim 8 An aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one annular support is an inner annular support that contacts only on the inner surface of an insulating tube. Claim 9 An aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a first annular support located at a first end of the insulating tube and a second annular support located at a second end of the insulating tube. Claim 10 An aerosol generating device according to claim 5, comprising an inner annular support located at the first end of the insulating tube and an outer annular support located at the second end of the insulating tube. Claim 11 An aerosol generating device according to claim 5, comprising at least one external annular support at each end of the insulating tube. Claim 12 An aerosol generating device according to claim 8, comprising at least one internal annular support at each end of the insulating tube. Claim 13 An aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one annular support member includes a connecting member for fixing the heater assembly to the frame. Claim 14 In paragraph 13, the aerosol generating device, wherein the connecting member comprises an opening arranged to receive one or more pins provided on the frame. Claim 15 An aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a thin film heater wound around the outer surface of the tubular heating chamber.

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