Aerosol provision system and method

Abstract

The embodiments of the present application disclose an aerosol provision system and an aerosol provision method. The system comprises a housing comprising a liquid storage area configured to store an aerosol generating substrate; an aerosol generation area comprising a heater and a liquid delivery mechanism; and a liquid buffer area arranged between the liquid storage area and the aerosol generation area; wherein, the liquid buffer area is configured to deliver the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area to the liquid delivery mechanism; the liquid delivery mechanism is configured to supply the aerosol generating substrate from the liquid buffer area to the heater, so that the heater atomizes the aerosol generating substrate in use to generate aerosols. Through embodiments of the present application, the technical problems of storing more aerosol generating substrate without leakage have been solved.

Description

[0001] AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM AND METHOD

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of aerosol provision technology, particularly to an aerosol provision system and an aerosol provision method.

[0004] Technical Background

[0005] In the electronic cigarette industry, aerosol provision systems typically include a storage portion for storing aerosol generating substrates. During use, the user inhales on the device to activate the heating element, which atomizes the aerosol generating substrates, thereby converting it into aerosols for inhalation by the user.

[0006] Existing storage portion always have a leakage problem if they store pure liquid aerosol generating substrates. Therefore, most existing liquid storage solutions fill the storage portion with absorbent material to store pure liquid aerosol generating substrates without leakage. However, due to the limited space inside the storage portion, if the interior of the storage portion is fully filled with absorbent material, the amount of stored liquid aerosol generating substrates would be greatly reduced, resulting in a decrease in user experience.

[0007] Summary

[0008] The invention aims to solve at least one of the technical issues present in the existing technology. Therefore, the present invention puts forward an aerosol provision system and an aerosol provision method, to solve the technical problems of how to store more aerosol generating substrates without leakage.

[0009] In the first aspect, the present invention provides an aerosol provision system comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises: a liquid storage area configured to store an aerosol generating substrate; an aerosol generation area comprising a heater and a liquid delivery mechanism; and a liquid buffer area arranged between the liquid storage area and the aerosol generation area; wherein, the liquid buffer area is configured to deliver the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area to the liquid delivery mechanism; the liquid delivery mechanism is configured to supply the aerosol generating substrate from the liquid buffer area to the heater, so that the heater atomizes the aerosol generating substrate in use to generate aerosols.

[0010] In a technical solution of the aerosol provision system mentioned above, the liquid buffer area comprises a barrier element and / or a liquid buffer element, the barrier element is configured to enable fluid communication between the liquid storage area and the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element; the liquid buffer element is configured to draw the aerosol generating substrate and deliver it to the liquid delivery mechanism. Isolating the liquid storage area from the aerosol generation area based on the barrier element and / or a liquid buffer element allows the aerosol generating substrate slowly enters the liquid delivery mechanism to prevent leakage, while ensuring that the liquid storage area can store a certain amount of aerosol generating substrate at the same time. Specifically:

[0011] In the embodiment in which the liquid buffer area comprises a barrier element, the liquid storage area is in fluid communication with the liquid delivery mechanism through the barrier, which slows down the velocity at which the aerosol generating substrate enters the liquid delivery mechanism from the liquid storage zone, so as to enable the liquid aerosol generating substrate to enter the liquid delivery mechanism in accordance with a predetermined path, and to prevent it from reaching unnecessary positions in other parts of the aerosol provision system, to reduce the risk of leakage;

[0012] In the embodiment in which the liquid buffer area comprises a barrier element and a liquid buffer element, the barrier element is configured to create a fluid communication between the liquid storage zone and the liquid buffer element. The liquid buffer element absorbs aerosol generating substrate from the barrier element and delivers it to the liquid delivery mechanism. The aerosol generating substrate first slows down the flow rate through the barrier element and enters the liquid buffer element, and then further reduces the flow rate of entering the liquid delivery mechanism through the liquid buffer element. The liquid buffer element can effectively control the amount of aerosol generating substrate into the liquid delivery mechanism, and has a certain liquid storage function, thus effectively preventing leakage problems during the delivery process;

[0013] In the embodiment in which the liquid buffer area comprises a liquid buffer element, the liquid buffer element absorbs the aerosol generating substrate from the liquid storage area and delivers it to the liquid delivery mechanism. The liquid buffer element can reduce the flow rate at which the aerosol generating substrate enters the liquid delivery mechanism, and can also store a certain amount of aerosol generating substrate to reduce the risk of leakage.

[0014] In a technical solution of the aerosol provision system mentioned above, the barrier element is provided with one or more holes, and the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area is delivered to the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element via the one or more holes. The barrier element can isolate the liquid storage area from the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element, and create fluid communication between the two through holes to meet the delivery requirements.

[0015] In a technical solution of the aerosol provision system mentioned above, the barrier element is provided with a flow guide channel, and the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area is delivered to the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element via the flow guide channel. The barrier element can isolate the liquid storage area from the liquid delivery mechanism or liquid buffering element, and create fluid communication between the two by means of flow channel design, and deliver the aerosol generating substrate according to the preset channel path.

[0016] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the barrier element is arranged around the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element, an outer wall of the barrier element is opened with one or more grooves in fluid communication with each other, the groove(s) is in contact with the housing to form a flow guide channel, and the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area is delivered to the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element via the flow guide channel.

[0017] Furthermore, in some embodiments, an end of the flow guide channel in fluid communication with the liquid storage area is configured as a first flow guide port, an end of the flow guide channel in fluid communication with the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element is configured as a second flow guide port, and the area of the second flow guide port is greater than that of the first flow guide port. The port connected to the liquid storage area is designed to be smaller due to the need to slow down the delivery velocity of aerosol generating substrate, which can effectively reduce the conveying rate. However, the area below in contact with the liquid delivery mechanism or liquid buffer element needs to ensure sufficient supply of aerosol generating substrate. Therefore, the contact port area should be appropriately enlarged to ensure the supply demand of aerosol generating substrate. In some embodiments of the present invention, the orientation of the first flow guide port is arranged in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the housing, and the first flow guide port is arranged in a stepped manner in a direction towards the flow guide channel with the area decreasing progressively, so that the aerosol is gradually decelerated and delivered in the first guide port, reducing the delivery pressure of the liquid at the first flow guide port and preventing the aerosol generating substrate from leaking out due to the delivery pressure at the first flow guide port. In a technical solution of the aerosol provision system mentioned above, a barrier plate is arranged between the liquid buffer element and the liquid delivery mechanism, the barrier plate is provided with one or more flow guide holes, and the liquid buffer element delivers the aerosol generating substrate to the liquid delivery mechanism via the flow guide hole(s). The barrier plate can effectively reduce the direct contact area between the liquid buffer element and the liquid delivery mechanism, thereby reducing the delivery velocity of the aerosol generating substrate between the two.

[0018] In a technical solution of the aerosol provision system mentioned above, the liquid buffer element is spaced along the circumferential direction of the liquid delivery mechanism. In some embodiments, the liquid delivery mechanism is configured as an oil guide element in contact with the heater to absorb aerosol generating substrate from the liquid buffer element or the barrier element for supplying to the heater. Therefore, in order to meet the supply demand of the heater and fully atomize the aerosols, in some embodiments, the oil guide element is arranged around the heater, and the buffer element is arranged around the liquid delivery mechanism. Furthermore, in some embodiments, there are at least two liquid buffer elements spaced along the circumferential direction of the liquid delivery mechanism, which can save the number of buffer elements and meet the supply requirements. The interval setting is equivalent to reducing the contact area, which helps to slow down the delivery velocity of the aerosol generating substrate, improve the internal balance, and prevent leakage.

[0019] In a technical solution of the aerosol provision system mentioned above, the liquid buffer element is provided by an absorbent material. In some embodiments, the absorbent material comprises at least one of cotton and glass fiber.

[0020] In a technical solution of the aerosol provision system mentioned above, the liquid storage area and the aerosol generation area are arranged along the same longitudinal axis, and the liquid buffer area is arranged around the aerosol generation area. The longitudinal arrangement facilitates the gravitational descend of liquid from the liquid storage area to the liquid buffer area, thereby delivering it from the liquid buffer area to the aerosol generation area.

[0021] In the second aspect, the present invention provides an aerosol provision method. The method is applied to any aerosol provision system according to the first aspect, and the method comprises: through the liquid buffer area, delivering the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area to the liquid delivery mechanism; through the liquid delivery mechanism, supplying the aerosol generating substrate from the liquid buffer area to the heater; through the heater, atomizing the aerosol generating substrate to generate aerosols.

[0022] The above one or more technical solutions of the present invention have at least one or more beneficial effects as follows:

[0023] In the technical solutions implementing the present invention, a liquid buffer area is configured between the liquid storage area and the aerosol generation area with a heater, so that the liquid aerosol generating substrate can slowly enter the liquid delivery mechanism to avoid liquid leakage. At the same time, more liquid aerosol generating substrate can be loaded into the liquid storage area without absorbent material.

[0024] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be partially described in the following description, some will become apparent from the following description, and others will be learned through the practice of the invention.

[0025] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the disclosed content of the present invention will become more understandable. It is easily understood by those skilled in the art that these drawings are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Moreover, similar numbers in the figures are used to represent similar components, among which:

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic structure diagram of an aerosol provision system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of an aerosol provision system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of an aerosol provision system according to an embodiment of the present invention (the liquid buffer area includes a barrier element);

[0030] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of an aerosol provision system according to an embodiment of the present invention (the liquid buffer area includes a barrier element and a liquid buffer element);

[0031] Figure 5 is a schematic structure diagram of the barrier element according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 is a schematic structure diagram of the barrier element from another angle according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of an aerosol provision system according to an embodiment of the present invention (the liquid buffer area includes liquid buffer element);

[0033] Figure 8 is a schematic structure diagram of a liquid buffer element and aerosol generation area according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 9 is a schematic structure diagram of a barrier plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Description of Drawing Label: 100, housing; 101, liquid storage area; 102, aerosol generation area; 1021, heater; 1022, liquid delivery mechanism; 103, liquid buffer area; 1031, barrier element; 1032, flow guide channel; 1033, groove; 1034, liquid buffer element; 1035, first flow guide port; 1036, second flow guide port; 104, first sealing element; 105, second sealing element; 106, barrier plate; 1061, flow guide hole.

[0036] Detailed description

[0037] The following describes some embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are only for explaining the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] As used herein, the term "delivery system" is intended to encompass systems that deliver at least one substance to a user in use, and includes: combustible aerosol provision systems, such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own or for make-your-own cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material); non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosolgenerating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials; and aerosol-free delivery systems that deliver the at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine. According to the present disclosure, a "combustible" aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is combusted or burned during use in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0039] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a system selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo and a cigar.

[0040] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to a component for use in a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a filter, a filter rod, a filter segment, a tobacco rod, a spill, an aerosol-modifying agent release component such as a capsule, a thread, or a bead, or a paper such as a plug wrap, a tipping paper or a cigarette paper.

[0041] According to the present disclosure, a "non-combustible" aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0042] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.

[0043] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0044] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosolgenerating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

[0045] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0046] Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non- combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device. In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosolgenerating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

[0047] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a noncombustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.

[0048] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and / or an aerosol-modifying agent.

[0049] In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and / or an aerosolmodifying agent.

[0050] In some embodiments, the delivery system is an aerosol-free delivery system that delivers at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

[0051] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosol-generating material or a material that is not intended to be aerosolised. As appropriate, either material may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavours, one or more aerosolformer materials, and / or one or more other functional materials.

[0052] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises an active substance. The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.

[0053] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.

[0054] As noted herein, the active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes.

[0055] As noted herein, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "botanical" includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibres, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like.

[0056] Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Memtha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens.

[0057] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is tobacco. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa and hemp.

[0058] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel.

[0059] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises a flavour. As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or gas.

[0060] In some embodiments, the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and / or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from cannabis.

[0061] In some embodiments, the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling, tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucolyptol, WS-3.

[0062] Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and / or flavourants. In some embodiments, the aerosolgenerating material may comprise an "amorphous solid", which may alternatively be referred to as a"monolithic solid" (i.e. non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may for example comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

[0063] The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and / or flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.

[0064] The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0065] The one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0066] The material may be present on or in a support, to form a substrate. The support may, for example, be or comprise paper, card, paperboard, cardboard, reconstituted material, a plastics material, a ceramic material, a composite material, glass, a metal, or a metal alloy. In some embodiments, the support comprises a susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is on one or either side of the material.

[0067] A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and / or an aerosol-modifying agent. A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

[0068] A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator, herein.

[0069] An aerosol-modifying agent is a substance, typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, that is configured to modify the aerosol generated, for example by changing the taste, flavour, acidity or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosolmodifying agent may be provided in an aerosol-modifying agent release component, that is operable to selectively release the aerosol-modifying agent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be an additive or a sorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of a flavourant, a colourant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosolmodifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form. The aerosol-modifying agent may be free from filtration material.

[0070] An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

[0071] The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems (which may also be referred to as vapour delivery systems) such as nebulisers or e-cigarettes. Throughout the following description the term "e-cigarette" or "electronic cigarette" may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used interchangeably with aerosol delivery system / device and electronic aerosol delivery system / device. Furthermore, and as is common in the technical field, the terms "aerosol" and "vapour", and related terms such as "vaporise", "volatilise" and "aerosolise", may generally be used interchangeably.

[0072] Aerosol delivery systems (e-cigarettes) often, though not always, comprise a modular assembly comprising a reusable device part and a replaceable (disposable / consumable) cartridge part. Often, the replaceable cartridge part will comprise the aerosol generating material and the vaporiser (which may collectively be called a "cartomizer") and the reusable device part will comprise the power provision (e.g. rechargeable power source) and control circuitry. It will be appreciated these different parts may comprise further elements depending on functionality. For example, the reusable device part will often comprise a user interface for receiving user input and displaying operating status characteristics, and the replaceable cartridge device part in some cases comprises a temperature sensor for helping to control temperature. Cartridges are electrically and mechanically coupled to the control unit for use, for example using a screw thread, bayonet, or magnetic coupling with appropriately arranged electrical contacts. When the aerosol generating material in a cartridge is exhausted, or the user wishes to switch to a different cartridge having a different aerosol generating material, the cartridge may be removed from the reusable part and a replacement cartridge attached in its place. Systems and devices conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part systems / devices.

[0073] It is common for electronic cigarettes to have a generally elongate shape. For the sake of providing a concrete example, certain embodiments of the disclosure will be taken to comprise this kind of generally elongate two-part system employing disposable cartridges. However, it will be appreciated that the underlying principles described herein may equally be adopted for different configurations, for example single-part systems or modular systems comprising more than two parts, refillable devices and single-use disposables, as well as other overall shapes, for example based on so-called box-mod high performance devices that typically have a boxier shape. More generally, it will be appreciated certain embodiments of the disclosure are based on aerosol delivery systems which are operationally configured to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein and the constructional aspects of systems configured to provide the functionality in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure is not of primary significance.

[0074] As described in the background technology, there is always a leakage problem of liquid aerosol generating substrate in cartridge with heaters, and that filling up with absorbent materials reduces storage capacity. Based on this, the present invention proposes an aerosol provision system that can avoid aerosol generating substrate leakage and meet storage needs.

[0075] Refer to Figures 1 and 2, which illustrate an example of an aerosol provision system. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of Figure 1. The aerosol provision system includes a housing 100, which comprises a liquid storage area 101 and an aerosol generation area

[0076] 102. The liquid storage area 101 stores an aerosol generating substrate, and the aerosol generation area 102 has a heater 1021 and a liquid delivery mechanism 1022. The liquid delivery mechanism 1022 supplies the aerosol generating substrate to the heater 1021, so that the heater 1021 atomizes the aerosol generating substrate to generate aerosols for inhalation by the user. The present invention intends to provide a liquid buffer area 103 between the liquid storage area 101 and the aerosol generation area 102, so that the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area 101 is delivered to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 through the liquid buffer area 103, thereby slowing down the velocity of the liquid aerosol generating substrate entering the liquid delivery mechanism 1022, and avoiding liquid leakage. At the same time, the liquid storage area 101 without absorbent material can store more liquid aerosol generating substrate.

[0077] It should be noted that Figures 1 and 2 are merely schematic diagrams illustrating multiple elements that may be included in the housing 100, and are not intended to convey specific positions and fixed structural patterns of the various elements. For example, any structure that can slow down the liquid flow rate can be included in the liquid buffer area

[0078] 103, and the housing 100 may contain an integrated or detachable base, not limited to the illustrated structure. It should also be understood that the aerosol provision system and the housing 100 may include other elements not shown in Figures 1 and 2. For example, the aerosol provision system may also include a power supply element, and the housing 100 may be detachably or fixedly mounted to the power supply element. The housing 100 may also include a connecting element for controlling heaters.

[0079] The following will illustrate the technical solution of the present invention through specific examples. For the convenience of understanding, in the examples of the present invention, the liquid storage area 101 and the aerosol generation area 102 are arranged along a common longitudinal axis, and the liquid buffer area 103 is arranged around the aerosol generation area 102. Other areas with the same buffering effect should be arranged within the scope of protection of the present invention without departing from the concept of the technical solution.

[0080] Embodiment 1

[0081] As shown in Figure 3, the liquid buffer area 103 includes a barrier element 1031. The liquid storage area 101 is in fluid communication with the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 through the barrier element 1031, which isolates the liquid storage area 101 from the aerosol generation area 102. At the same time, the flow design slows down the velocity of aerosol generating substrate entering the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 from the liquid storage area 101, reducing the risk of leakage.

[0082] In one embodiment, the barrier element 1031 is provided with one or more holes, and the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area 101 is delivered to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 through the holes to achieve fluid communication.

[0083] In one implementation, the barrier element 1031 itself can achieve liquid conduction. For example, the barrier element 1031 can be prepared from porous ceramic materials with a pore structure (micropores and / or mesopores). The aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area 101 is delivered to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 through these micropores / mesopores, achieving fluid communication.

[0084] In one embodiment, the barrier element 1031 is provided with a flow guide channel 1032, and the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area 101 is delivered to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 through the flow guide channel 1032 to achieve fluid communication. It should be noted that the structural parameters such as position, length, and curvature of the flow guide channel 1032 can be designed according to actual use. Figure 3 is only an exemplary illustration and is not a specific limitation on its structure. The aerosol generating substrate is delivered along a predetermined path through the flow guide channel 1032. In this embodiment, the barrier element 1031 is arranged around the liquid delivery mechanism 1022, and one or more interconnected grooves 1033 are provided on the outer wall of the barrier element 1031. The groove 1033 is in contact with the housing 100 to form the flow guide channel 1032. One end of the flow guide channel

[0085] 1032 is connected to the liquid storage area 101, and the other end is connected to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022. Forming the flow guide channel 1032 through the outer groove

[0086] 1033 is convenient to operate and can effectively slow down the fluid velocity of the aerosol generating substrate from the liquid storage area 101 from the periphery, improve the balance of internal and external air pressure, and prevent leakage.

[0087] Embodiment 2

[0088] As shown in Figure 4, the liquid buffer area 103 includes a barrier element 1031 and a liquid buffer element 1034. The barrier element 1031 can establish fluid communication between the liquid storage area 101 and the liquid buffer element 1034. The liquid buffer element 1034 absorbs the aerosol generating substrate from the barrier element 1031 and delivers it to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022. The design of the barrier element 1031 slows down the flow velocity of the aerosol generating substrate, and the liquid buffer element 1034 has a certain liquid storage function, which further slows down the liquid flow velocity entering the liquid delivery mechanism 1022. At the same time, it improves the balance with the liquid storage area 101 and avoids liquid leakage due to internal and external pressure differences.

[0089] In one embodiment, the barrier element 1031 is provided with one or more holes, and the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area 101 is delivered to the liquid buffer element 1034 through the holes to achieve fluid communication.

[0090] In one implementation, the barrier element 1031 itself can achieve liquid conduction. For example, the barrier element 1031 can be prepared from porous ceramic materials with a pore structure (micropores and / or mesopores). The aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area 101 is delivered to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 through these micropores / mesopores, achieving fluid communication.

[0091] In one embodiment, the barrier element 1031 is provided with a flow guide channel 1032, and the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area 101 is delivered to the liquid buffer element 1034 through the flow guide channel 1032 to achieve fluid communication. It should be noted that the structural parameters such as position, length, and curvature of the flow guide channel 1032 can be designed according to actual use. Figure 3 is only an exemplary illustration and is not a specific limitation on its structure. The aerosol generating substrate is delivered along a predetermined path through the flow guide channel 1032. In this embodiment, the barrier element 1031 is arranged around the liquid buffer element 1034, and one or more interconnected grooves 1033 are provided on the outer wall of the barrier element 1031. The groove 1033 are in contact with the housing 100 to form the flow guide channel 1032. One end of the flow guide channel 1032 is connected to the liquid storage area 101, and the other end is connected to the liquid buffer element 1034. Forming the flow guide channel 1032 through the outer groove 1033 is convenient for the mold fabrication process, and effectively reduces the area occupied by the barrier element 1031 in the liquid buffer area 103 and increases the area of the liquid buffer element 1034, so that the liquid buffer element 1034 can store more aerosol generating substrate, improving the balance with the liquid storage area 101, and preventing leakage.

[0092] Based on the embodiments in Figures 3 and 4, for the flow guide channel 1032 formed by groove 1033 on the outer side of the barrier element 1031, as shown in Figure 5, the flow guide channel 1032 connects the liquid storage area 101 to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 or the liquid buffer element 1034. The end of the flow guide channel 1032 that connects to the liquid storage area 101 is the first flow guide port 1035, and the end of the flow guide channel 1032 that connects to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 or the liquid buffer element 1034 is the second flow guide port 1036. The area of the second flow guide port 1036 can be designed to be larger than that of the first flow guide port 1035, forming a fluid trend with sufficient buffering from top to bottom, which contributes to the internal and external balance of the liquid when it descends and prevent liquid leakage. Furthermore, the first flow guide port 1035 is arranged in a stepped manner with decreasing area towards the flow guide channel 1032, so that the aerosol descends gradually in the first flow guide port 1035. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the flow guide channel 1032 can be equipped with a first flow guide port 1035 on one end and two second flow guide ports 1036 on each side on the other end for delivery. It increases the contact with the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 or the liquid buffer element 1034. The barrier element 1031 is arranged around the liquid buffer element 1034 or the liquid delivery mechanism 1022, and the flow guide channel 1032 can be set on both sides of the barrier element 1031 to ensure supply demand and fully utilize the space inside the housing 100, which helps upper and lower balance. It should be noted that the opening direction, quantity, and size of the flow guide channel 1032 can be designed according to actual product requirements, and the figure is only for illustration. At the same time, the orientation and size of each port can also be designed according to actual needs, and are not limited in the present invention.

[0093] Embodiment 3

[0094] As shown in Figure 7, the liquid buffer area 103 includes a liquid buffer element 1034, which absorbs aerosol generating substrate from the liquid storage area 101 and delivers it to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022. By means of liquid buffer element 1034, the risk of liquid leakage is directly reduced while ensuring a certain amount of liquid storage.

[0095] Based on Embodiments 2 and 3, for the liquid buffer element 1034, in order to further reduce the liquid delivery velocity between the liquid buffer element 1034 and the liquid delivery mechanism 1022, the contact area between the liquid buffer element 1034 and the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 can be reduced. Specifically, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, a barrier plate 106 is provided between the liquid buffer element 1034 and the liquid delivery mechanism 1022, and one or more flow guide holes 1061 are provided on the baffle 106. The liquid buffer element 1034 delivers the aerosol generating substrate to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 through the guide holes 1061.

[0096] In Embodiments 2 and 3, as shown in Figures 4, 7, and 8, the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 is arranged around the heater 1021, and the liquid buffer element 1034 is arranged around the liquid delivery mechanism 1022. The liquid buffer element 1034 can also be arranged at intervals around the liquid delivery mechanism 1022, as long as one side is in contact with the liquid delivery mechanism 1022. If delivery through the flow guide channel 1032 on the other side, the position of the output port of the flow guide channel 1032 needs to be matched.

[0097] In Embodiments 2 and 3, the liquid buffer element 1034 is provided by an absorbent material that has a certain liquid storage function, and delivers aerosol generating substrate through an absorptive action in contact with the liquid delivery mechanism 1022. The absorbent material includes cotton or glass fiber, etc.

[0098] In embodiments 1-3, the liquid delivery mechanism 1022 is an oil guide element in contact with the heater 1021. Through contact absorption, the aerosol generating substrate from the liquid buffer element 1034 or the barrier element 1031 is supplied to the heater 1021. The material of the oil guide element is one or more of natural sponge, synthetic sponge, cotton wool, glass fiber wool, porous plastic, porous polymer fiber, and non-woven fiber. The heater 1021 includes one or more resistance wires, which are in a form of sheet-like porous structure or mesh structure. They absorb aerosol generating substrate by contacting the oil guide element, thereby heating and atomizing the aerosol generating substrate to generate aerosols.

[0099] Furthermore, in Embodiments 1-3, as shown in Figures 3-7, a first sealing element 104 is provided between the liquid storage area 101 and the barrier element 1031 or the liquid buffer element 1034. The first sealing element 104 can improve the sealability between the liquid storage area 101 and the liquid buffer area 103, prevent leakage of the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area 101 outside from the flow channel, and can be designed to fit with the barrier element 1031; The lower ends of the liquid buffer area 103 and the aerosol generation area 102, which are in contact with the bottom of the housing 100, are also equipped with a second sealing element 105 to prevent leakage of the aerosol generating substrate from the bottom of the housing 100. The material of the first sealing element 104 and the second sealing element 105 can be silicone. It should be noted that the sealing element in the example of the present invention is not a specific limitation on its structure. Its actual structure, material, and size are designed according to the product structure and requirements, as long as they meet the sealing conditions of the bottom.

[0100] Based on Embodiments 1-3, the present invention achieves pure liquid storage at the top of heater 1021, and the liquid storage area 101 without absorbent material in the upper part can be filled with more liquid aerosol generating substrate; A liquid buffer area 103 is arranged around the liquid delivery mechanism 1022. The liquid buffer area 103 isolates the liquid storage area 101 from the aerosol generation area 102 through a barrier element 1031 or a liquid buffer element 1034, and slows down the flow velocity of the aerosol generating substrate entering the aerosol generation area 102, reducing the pressure difference of the liquid when in outside or during internal delivery, achieving pressure balance of liquid flow, and thus avoiding leakage of the aerosol generating substrate. Meanwhile, the design of the flow channel is more conducive to balancing the liquid flow pressure, so that the aerosol generating substrate slowly flows into the aerosol generation area 102.

[0101] Furthermore, the present invention also provides an aerosol provision method, based on the aerosol provision system as described above, the method comprising: through the liquid buffer area 103, delivering the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area 101 to the liquid delivery mechanism 1022; through the liquid delivery mechanism 1022, supplying the aerosol generating substrate from the liquid buffer area 103 to the heater 1021; through the heater 1021, atomizing the aerosol generating substrate to generate aerosols

[0102] The aerosol provision system generates aerosols through the above method, and users inhale the generated aerosols by using the aerosol provision system. The specific principles and functional effects of each part of the aerosol provision system can be described in Examples 1-3, and repetition will not be repeated.

[0103] It should be pointed out that although the above embodiments describe each step in a specific order, those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that in order to achieve the effects of the present invention, different steps do not necessarily have to be executed in this order. They can be executed simultaneously (in parallel) or in other orders, and these changes are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0104] Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that various modules in the system can be adaptively split or merged. The splitting or merging of specific modules will not cause the technical solution to deviate from the principles of the present invention, therefore, the technical solution after splitting or merging will fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0105] In the description of this specification, the referential terminology "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples" means that specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are comprised in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the indicative expression of the above-mentioned terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the described specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable way in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0106] Moreover, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used merely for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the characteristics defined as "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly comprise at least one such characteristic. In the description of the present invention, the term "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0107] In the present invention, unless explicitly defined and limited, terms such as "mounting," "connecting," "connection," "fixing," etc., should be understood broadly. For instance, the connection can be a fixed connection or a detachable connection, or integrated; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediary medium, it can be the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless explicitly defined otherwise. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of these terms in the context of the invention based on the circumstances.

[0108] Although the embodiments of the invention have been shown and described above, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and should not be considered as limiting the invention. Those skilled in the art within the scope of the invention can make variations, modifications, replacements, and variations to the abovedescribed embodiments.

Claims

Claims1. An aerosol provision system comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises: a liquid storage area configured to store an aerosol generating substrate; an aerosol generation area comprising a heater and a liquid delivery mechanism; and a liquid buffer area arranged between the liquid storage area and the aerosol generation area; wherein, the liquid buffer area is configured to deliver the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area to the liquid delivery mechanism; the liquid delivery mechanism is configured to supply the aerosol generating substrate from the liquid buffer area to the heater, so that the heater atomizes the aerosol generating substrate in use to generate aerosols.

2. The aerosol provision system according to claim 1, wherein the liquid buffer area comprises a barrier element and / or a liquid buffer element, the barrier element is configured to enable fluid communication between the liquid storage area and the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element; the liquid buffer element is configured to draw the aerosol generating substrate and deliver it to the liquid delivery mechanism.

3. The aerosol provision system according to claim 2, wherein the barrier element is provided with one or more holes, and the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area is delivered to the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element via the one or more holes.

4. The aerosol provision system according to claim 2, wherein the barrier element is provided with a flow guide channel, and the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area is delivered to the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element via the flow guide channel.

5. The aerosol provision system according to claim 4, wherein the barrier element is arranged around the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element, an outer wall of the barrier element is opened with one or more grooves in fluid communication with each other, the groove(s) is in contact with the housing to form a flow guide channel, and the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area is delivered to the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element via the flow guide channel.

6. The aerosol provision system according to claim 4, wherein an end of the flow guide channel in fluid communication with the liquid storage area is configured as a first flow guide port, an end of the flow guide channel in fluid communication with the liquid delivery mechanism or the liquid buffer element is configured as a second flow guide port, and the area of the second flow guide port is greater than that of the first flow guide port.

7. The aerosol provision system according to claim 6, wherein the orientation of the first flow guide port is arranged in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the housing, and the first flow guide port is arranged in a stepped manner in a direction towards the flow guide channel with the area decreasing progressively.

8. The aerosol provision system according to any one of claims 2 - 7, wherein a barrier plate is arranged between the liquid buffer element and the liquid delivery mechanism, the barrier plate is provided with one or more flow guide holes, and the liquid buffer element delivers the aerosol generating substrate to the liquid delivery mechanism via the flow guide hole(s).

9. The aerosol provision system according to any one of claims 2 - 7, wherein the liquid delivery mechanism is arranged around the heater, and the liquid buffer element is arranged around the liquid delivery mechanism.

10. The aerosol provision system according to any one of claims 2 - 7, wherein there are at least two liquid buffer elements spaced along the circumferential direction of the liquid delivery mechanism.

11. The aerosol provision system according to any one of claims 2 - 7, wherein the liquid buffer element is provided by an absorbent material.

12. The aerosol provision system according to claim 11, wherein the absorbent material comprises at least one of cotton and glass fiber.

13. The aerosol provision system according to claim 1, wherein the liquid delivery mechanism is configured as an oil guide element in contact with the heater.

14. The aerosol provision system according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage area and the aerosol generation area are arranged along the same longitudinal axis, and the liquid buffer area is arranged around the aerosol generation area.

15. An aerosol provision method, wherein the method is applied to the aerosol provision system according to any one of claims 1 - 14, and the method comprises: through the liquid buffer area, delivering the aerosol generating substrate in the liquid storage area to the liquid delivery mechanism; through the liquid delivery mechanism, supplying the aerosol generating substrate from the liquid buffer area to the heater; through the heater, atomizing the aerosol generating substrate to generate aerosols.

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