Consumable for an aerosol generating system

Abstract

A consumable (100, 200, 300) for an aerosol generating apparatus (202), the consumable (100, 200, 300) comprising an aerosol precursor comprising a substrate (104, 204), an outer conductive element (106, 206) extending around a consumable axis and encasing the substrate (104, 204), and an inner conductive element (108, 208) located within the substrate (104, 204), wherein the outer conductive element (106, 206) and the inner conductive element (108, 208) are each configured to heat the substrate (104, 204).

Description

[0001] CONSUMABLE FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM

[0002] FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a consumable for an aerosol generating system.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] A typical aerosol generating system may comprise a power supply, an aerosol generating unit that is driven by the power supply, an aerosol precursor, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit to generate an aerosol, and a delivery system for delivery of the aerosol to a user.

[0006] Some aerosol generating units correspond to induction heating units comprising an induction coil and a susceptor located within the induction coil. A drawback with such units is that it may be difficult to achieve uniform heating of the aerosol precursor.

[0007] The present invention has been devised in light of the above considerations.

[0008] SUMMARY

[0009] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a consumable for an aerosol generating apparatus, the consumable comprising: an aerosol precursor comprising a substrate; an outer conductive element extending around a consumable axis and encasing the substrate; and, an inner conductive element located within the substrate, wherein the outer conductive element and the inner conductive element are each configured to heat the substrate.

[0010] Advantageously, the consumable comprising both the outer conductive element and the inner conductive element may allow the consumable to be more uniformly heated. For example, both outsidein and inside-out heating may be achieved with such a consumable.

[0011] Conductive may mean electrically and / or thermally conductive. The outer conductive element may be electrically conductive and / or thermally conductive. The inner conductive element may be electrically conductive and / or thermally conductive.

[0012] A conductive element being configured to heat the substrate may comprise the conductive element being in thermal contact with the substrate.

[0013] The outer conductive element encasing the substrate may comprise the outer conductive element being tubular, for example.

[0014] The consumable axis may be a longitudinal axis of the consumable, for example. The substrate may have an upstream end face and a downstream end face. The consumable axis may extend between the upstream end face and the downstream end face of the substrate. A side face of the substrate may extend from the upstream end face to the downstream end face. A flow path may extend through the substrate from the upstream end face to the downstream end face. Thus, in use, when a user inhales through the consumable, air may flow through the consumable in a direction from the upstream end face to the downstream end face.

[0015] In some examples, the outer conductive element and / or the inner conductive element may be inductively heatable.

[0016] Inductively heatable may refer to a susceptor. Inductively heatable may refer to a material which is conductive, for example copper or aluminium, or which is ferrous, for example iron or steel (e.g.,

[0017] P01510stainless steel). Inductively heatable material may refer to a material which is magnetic, for example ferromagnetic, such as iron or steel. In this way, the conductive element(s) may be more suitable for heating by an induction coil, for example by an induction coil located at an end of the consumable. Such an induction coil is described in further detail below.

[0018] In some examples, the outer conductive element and / or the inner conductive element may be formed of stainless steel with a nickel coating. In this way, a desirable Curie temperature of the conductive element(s) may be achieved.

[0019] It will be appreciated that the aerosol generating apparatus may comprise an induction coil. The aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a receiving cavity for receiving the consumable. The induction coil may be located at or beneath the base of the receiving cavity. The receiving cavity may comprise a support wall to support an end face of the consumable (e.g., the upstream end face of the substrate) when the consumable is inserted in the receiving cavity. The base of the receiving cavity may comprise a surface of the support wall which faces into the receiving cavity and / or which is configured to abut the end face of the consumable. The induction coil being located beneath the base of the receiving cavity may comprise the induction coil being located on a side of the support wall which faces away from the receiving cavity (e.g., being located adjacent a surface of the support wall which faces away from the receiving cavity).

[0020] In some examples, the outer conductive element and / or the inner conductive element may extend from the upstream end face of the substrate towards a downstream end face of the substrate. The consumable may be configured to be inserted into the receiving cavity via the upstream end face. Thus, in use, when the consumable is inserted into the receiving cavity, the upstream end face of the substrate may face the base ofthe receiving cavity and / orthe induction coil. In this way, the conductive element(s) may be inductively heatable by an induction coil located at or beneath a base of the receiving cavity. The outer conductive element and / or the inner conductive element may extend (all the way) to the downstream end face of the substrate. In this way, the substrate may be more evenly heated.

[0021] There may be an aversion in the field of inductively heatable consumables to consumables having both an outer and an inner inductively heatable element. It may be expected that the outer element will act as a Faraday shield and will shield the inner element from a magnetic field, thus preventing the inner element from being inductively heated.

[0022] In some examples, the outer conductive element and the inner conductive element may be electrically separate (e.g., electrically not coupled to one another).

[0023] In some examples, the consumable may comprise a conductive membrane covering at least a portion ofthe upstream end face ofthe substrate, the conductive membrane being thermally and / or electrically coupled to the outer conductive element and / or the inner conductive element. The conductive membrane may be thermally and / or electrically conductive.

[0024] In this way, the outer conductive element and / or the inner conductive element may be more effectively heated in use by a heater (e.g., an induction coil) located at or beneath a base of the receiving cavity. For example, the conductive membrane may be heated by the heater, and, due to the thermal coupling, heat may be conducted to the outer conductive element and / or the inner conductive element from the conductive membrane to distribute the heat to the substrate more evenly. Thus, the consumable may

[0025] P01510be heatable by a heater located at an upstream end of the consumable, but, for example, without burning the upstream end face of the substrate, or, for example, while allowing a larger portion of the consumable to be heated.

[0026] In some examples, the conductive membrane may be inductively heatable (e.g., may be formed of a ferrous material). Thus, the conductive membrane may be referred to as a susceptor membrane. In some examples, the conductive membrane defines one or more apertures. Each aperture may define a respective airflow inlet into the consumable. For example, the conductive membrane may define 3 or more apertures. In this way, flow of air and / or aerosol through the consumable may be improved. Additionally, or alternatively, air may be heated by the conductive membrane as it flows into the consumable.

[0027] The conductive membrane may be in thermal contact with the upstream end face of the substrate. In some examples, the conductive membrane may extend across a diameter of the upstream end face. In some examples, the conductive membrane may extend around a perimeter or circumference of the upstream end face. In this way, the conductive membrane may be more durable and / or may be in thermal contact with a larger area of the upstream end face and / or substrate.

[0028] The consumable may comprise one or more filters. Each filter may be located downstream of the substrate. Each filter may be aligned with the substrate along the consumable axis. In this way, certain substances from the precursor, for example, may be filtered from the flow of air and / or aerosol before they are inhaled by a user.

[0029] One or more of the filters may correspond to a hollow filter, the hollow filter defining an airflow bore. The airflow bore may be aligned with the substrate along the consumable axis. For example, an axis through the airflow bore may correspond to the consumable axis.

[0030] In some examples, the downstream end face of the substrate may abut a filter, for example the hollow filter.

[0031] In some examples, the conductive membrane covers at least 80%, at least 90%, or at least 95% of an area of the upstream end face of the substrate. For example, the total area of the one or more airflow apertures may be less than 20%, less than 10%, or less than 5% of the area upstream end face of the substrate. In this way, the upstream end face of the substrate may be effectively heated.

[0032] In some examples, a thickness of the conductive membrane along the consumable axis may be at least may be at least 0.1 mm. In this way, the conductive membrane may be prevented from heating up to a temperature which will burn the substrate. In some examples, a thickness of the conductive membrane along the consumable axis may be no more than 1.5 mm. In this way, the conductive membrane may heat effectively heat the substrate. In some examples, the consumable may comprise a wrapper (e.g., a paper wrapper) covering an exposed face of the conductive membrane (e.g., a surface of the conductive membrane which faces away from the substrate) and securing the conductive membrane in thermal contact with the upstream end face.

[0033] In some examples, the inner conductive element may comprise a conductive rod. In some examples, the inner conductive element may comprise a conductive tube. The conductive tube may encase at least a portion of the substrate. A tubular portion of the substrate may be sandwiched between the outer and inner conductive elements. In this way, more uniform heating of the substrate may be achieved. In

[0034] P01510some examples, the inner conductive element may have a transverse cross-section which is crossshaped. A transverse cross-section may refer to a cross-section which is transverse to the consumable axis. In this way, more uniform heating of the substrate may be achieved.

[0035] In some examples, the inner conductive element may be located at the centre of the substrate. For example, the conduction element may extend along a central axis of the substrate, which may correspond to the consumable axis. In this way, more uniform heating of the substrate may be achieved. In some examples, the outer conductive element may be thicker (e.g., in a direction transverse to the consumable axis) than the inner conductive element. In some examples, the outer conductive element may be formed of a different material than the inner conductive element.

[0036] In this way, the inner conductive element may heat up at a different rate (e.g., faster) and / or may achieve a higher temperature than the outer conductive element in use. The substrate may be heated more evenly.

[0037] In some examples, a length of the outer conductive element along the consumable axis may be shorter than that of the inner conductive element and / or the outer conductive element may be offset from the inner conductive element along the consumable axis.

[0038] In this way, a Faraday shield effect, which may prevent a magnetic field reaching the inner conductive element (from e.g., an induction coil extending around the consumable), may be inhibited.

[0039] In some examples, the outer conductive element may form an external wrapper of the consumable. In this way, the external wrapper of the consumable may serve a dual purpose.

[0040] A thickness of the outer conductive element and / or a thickness of the inner conductive element in a direction transverse to the consumable axis may be at least 0.01 mm and less than 1 mm. In some examples, the outer conductive element and / or the inner conductive element may be formed of a foil. In this way, the outer conductive element may be well suited to forming an external wrapper, for example, and / or the inner conductive element may be easily retained within the substrate.

[0041] In some examples, the consumable may correspond to a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable for an HNB aerosol generating apparatus. The substrate may correspond to a solid substrate, such as tobacco, for example reconstituted tobacco.

[0042] In some examples, the consumable may comprise an external insulating wrapper (e.g., formed of paper or cardboard) extending around the outer conductive element.

[0043] In this way, a safety of the consumable may be improved. For example, the temperature of the external surface of the consumable after use may be reduced.

[0044] In a second aspect the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating apparatus comprising: a consumable according to the first aspect; and an aerosol generating apparatus. The outer conductive element and / or the inner conductive element of the consumable may be inductively heatable. The aerosol generating apparatus may comprise: a receiving cavity for receiving the consumable; and an induction coil located at or beneath a base of the receiving cavity, the induction coil configured for inductive heating or inductive detection of the consumable.

[0045] The induction coil may be configured for inductive heating or inductive detection of the consumable, for example by forming an element of an induction heating, or inductive detection circuit of the aerosol generating apparatus. Such circuits are well known. For example, the induction coil may be configuredfor inductive heating of the consumable by being operable (e.g., via the induction heating circuit) to generate an alternating electromagnetic field within, and / or at the base of, the receiving cavity. The induction coil may be configured for inductive detection of the consumable by being operable (e.g., via the inductive detection circuit) to generate an electromagnetic field within, and / or at the base of, the receiving cavity, which may be altered by the presence of an inductively heatable or detectable material, for example.

[0046] Advantageously, due to the induction coil being located at or beneath the base of the receiving cavity, instead of extending around the receiving cavity for example, the aerosol generating apparatus may be less bulky. Additionally, or alternatively, due to the induction coil being at or beneath the base of the receiving cavity, both the outer conductive element and the inner conductive element may be heated by the induction coil via induction heating. That is to say, the system may function similarly to an induction hob.

[0047] In some examples, the coil may correspond to a spiral induction coil. The spiral induction coil may be flat. The induction coil may extend (e.g., circumferentially) around a coil axis which is parallel to or coaxial with (e.g., which may correspond to) a longitudinal axis of the receiving cavity. When the consumable is inserted into the receiving cavity, the consumable axis may also correspond to the receiving cavity longitudinal axis.

[0048] The receiving cavity may comprise a support wall to support an end face of the consumable (e.g., the upstream end face of the substrate) when the consumable is inserted into the receiving cavity. An upper surface of the support wall may face into the receiving cavity, and may be configured to abut the end face of the consumable when the consumable is inserted into the receiving cavity. A lower surface of the support wall may face away from the receiving cavity and may be adjacent and / or abut and / or face the induction coil. The support wall' may extend (e.g., circumferentially) around a longitudinal axis of the receiving cavity. The support wall may define an opening. An opening axis which extends through the opening may be parallel to or coaxial with (e.g., may correspond to) the longitudinal axis of the receiving cavity. In this way, a magnetic field generated by the induction coil may effectively enter the receiving cavity. Additionally, or alternatively, a magnetic field generated may be affected by a consumable being inserted into the receiving cavity.

[0049] In some examples, the aerosol generating apparatus may correspond to an HNB aerosol generating apparatus. For example, the induction coil may be configured to inductively heat the susceptor membrane to a temperature where the precursor is aerosolised, but where the substrate does not burn. This could be achieved by certain coil parameters, such as the number of turns of the coil, or the diameter of the coil, or by certain currents applied through the induction coil, for example.

[0050] It will be appreciated that the aerosol generating apparatus may comprise an induction coil. The aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a receiving cavity for receiving the consumable. The induction coil may be located at or beneath a base of the receiving cavity, or may extend around the receiving cavity. The preceding summary is provided for purposes of summarizing some examples to provide a basic understanding of aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-described features should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Moreover, the above and / or proceeding examples may be combined in any suitablecombination to provide further examples, except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following text and the accompanying drawings.

[0051] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0052] Aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of examples in reference to the appended drawings in which like numerals denote like elements.

[0053] Fig. 1 is a block system diagram showing an example aerosol generating apparatus.

[0054] Fig. 2 is a block system diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 1 , where the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to generate aerosol from a solid precursor.

[0055] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 2.

[0056] Fig. 4 shows a perspective side view of a consumable.

[0057] Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of an aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating apparatus and a consumable.

[0058] Fig. 6 shows a perspective side view of a consumable within a receiving cavity of an aerosol generating apparatus.

[0059] Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of an aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating apparatus and a consumable.

[0060] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0061] Before describing several examples implementing the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by specific construction details or process steps set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the systems, apparatuses and / or methods described herein could be embodied differently and / or be practiced or carried out in various alternative ways.

[0062] Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that may be cited and discussed in the present specification.

[0063] Any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications mentioned in the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0064] All examples implementing the present disclosure can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While particular examples have been described, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the systems, apparatus, and / or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the inventive concepts). All such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the inventive concept(s) as defined by the appended claims.The use of the term “a” or “an” in the claims and / or the specification may mean “one,” as well as “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.” As such, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the,” as well as all singular terms, include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Likewise, plural terms shall include the singular unless otherwise required by context.

[0065] The use of the term “or” in the present disclosure (including the claims) is used to mean an inclusive “and / or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or unless the alternatives are mutually exclusive. For example, a condition “A or B” is satisfied by any of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

[0066] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising, “having,” “including,” or “containing” (and any forms thereof, such as “comprise” and “comprises,” “have” and “has,” “includes” and “include,” or “contains” and “contain,” respectively) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

[0067] Unless otherwise explicitly stated as incompatible, or the physics or otherwise of the embodiments, examples, or claims prevent such a combination, the features of examples disclosed herein, and of the claims, may be integrated together in any suitable arrangement, especially ones where there is a beneficial effect in doing so. This is not limited to only any specified benefit, and instead may arise from an “ex post facto” benefit. This is to say that the combination of features is not limited by the described forms, particularly the form (e.g. numbering) of example(s), embodiment(s), or dependency of claim(s). Moreover, this also applies to the phrase “in one embodiment,” “according to an embodiment,” and the like, which are merely a stylistic form of wording and are not to be construed as limiting the following features to a separate embodiment to all other instances of the same or similar wording. This is to say, a reference to ‘an,’ ‘one,’ or ‘some’ embodiments) may be a reference to any one or more, and / or all embodiments, or combination(s) thereof, disclosed. Also, similarly, the reference to “the” embodiment may not be limited to the immediately preceding embodiment. Further, all references to one or more embodiments or examples are to be construed as non-limiting to the claims.

[0068] The present disclosure may be better understood in view of the following explanations, wherein the terms used that are separated by “or” may be used interchangeably:

[0069] As used herein, an "aerosol generating apparatus" (or “electron ic(e)-cigarette’) may be an apparatus configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user. The apparatus may additionally / alternatively be referred to as a “smoking substitute apparatus”, if it is intended to be used instead of a conventional combustible smoking article. As used herein a combustible “smoking article” may refer to a cigarette, cigar, pipe or other article, that produces smoke (an aerosol comprising solid particulates and gas) via heating above the thermal decomposition temperature (typically by combustion and / or pyrolysis). An aerosol generated by the apparatus may comprise an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.2 - 7 microns, or less than 10 microns, or less than 7 microns. This particle size may be achieved by control of one or more of: heater temperature; cooling rate as the vapour condenses to an aerosol; flow properties including turbulence and velocity. The generation of aerosol by the aerosol generating apparatus may be controlled by an input device. The input device may be configured to be

[0070] P01510user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and / or an airflow sensor.

[0071] Each occurrence of the aerosol generating apparatus being caused to generate aerosol for a period of time (which may be variable) may be referred to as an “activation” of the aerosol generating apparatus. The aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to allow an amount of aerosol delivered to a user to be varied per activation (as opposed to delivering a fixed dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating an aerosol generating unit of the apparatus for a variable amount of time, e.g. based on the strength / duration of a draw of a user through a flow path of the apparatus (to replicate an effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article).

[0072] As used herein, an "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursor, including as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. An aerosol herein may generally refer to / include a vapour. An aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor. As used herein, a “precursor” may include one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; loose leaf material; other substance. The precursor may be processed by an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus to generate an aerosol. The precursor may include one or more of: an active component; a carrier; a flavouring. The active component may include one or more of nicotine; caffeine; a cannabidiol oil; a non-pharmaceutical formulation, e.g. a formulation which is not for treatment of a disease or physiological malfunction of the human body. The active component may be carried by the carrier, which may be a liquid, including propylene glycol and / or glycerine. The term “flavouring” may refer to a component that provides a taste and / or a smell to the user. The flavouring may include one or more of: Ethylvanillin (vanilla); menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil); or other. The precursor may include a substrate, e.g. reconstituted tobacco to carry one or more of the active component; a carrier; a flavouring.

[0073] As used herein, a "flow path" may refer to a path or enclosed passageway through an aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. for delivery of an aerosol to a user. The flow path may be arranged to receive aerosol from an aerosol generating unit. When referring to the flow path, upstream and downstream may be defined in respect of a direction of flow in the flow path, e.g. with an outlet being downstream of an inlet.

[0074] As used herein, a "delivery system" may be a system operative to deliver an aerosol to a user. The delivery system may include a mouthpiece and a flow path.

[0075] As used herein, a "flow" may refer to a flow in a flow path. A flow may include aerosol generated from the precursor. The flow may include air, which may be induced into the flow path via a puff by a user. As used herein, a “puff” (or "inhale" or “draw”) by a user may refer to expansion of lungs and / or oral cavity of a user to create a pressure reduction that induces flow through the flow path.

[0076] As used herein, an "aerosol generating unit" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor. The aerosol generating unit may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the precursor (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the precursor (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the precursor in the flow without using electrical energy or other system). A plurality of aerosol generating

[0077] P01510units to generate a plurality of aerosols (for example, from a plurality of different aerosol precursors) may be present in an aerosol generating apparatus.

[0078] As used herein, a “heating system” may refer to an arrangement of at least one heating element, which is operable to aerosolise a precursor once heated. The at least one heating element may be electrically resistive to produce heat from the flow of electrical current therethrough. The at least one heating element may be arranged as a susceptor to produce heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. The heating system may be configured to heat a precursor to below 300 or 350 degrees C, including without combustion.

[0079] As used herein, a "consumable" may refer to a unit that includes a precursor. The consumable may include an aerosol generating unit, e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer. The consumable may include a mouthpiece. With solid material implementations of the precursor, e.g. tobacco or reconstituted tobacco formulation, the consumable may be referred to as a “stick” or “package” or “heat-not-burn consumable”. In a heat-not-burn consumable, the mouthpiece may be implemented as a filter and the consumable may be arranged to carry the precursor. The consumable may be implemented as a dosage or pre-portioned amount of material, including a loose-leaf product.

[0080] As used herein “heat-not-burn” (or “HNB” or “heated precursor”) may refer to the heating of a precursor, typically tobacco, without combustion, or without substantial combustion (i.e. localised combustion may be experienced of limited portions of the precursor, including of less than 5% of the total volume).

[0081] Referring to Fig. 1 , an example aerosol generating apparatus 1 includes a power supply 2, for supply of electrical energy. The apparatus 1 includes an aerosol generating unit 4 that is driven by the power supply 2. The power supply 2 may include an electric power supply in the form of a battery and / or an electrical connection to an external power source. The apparatus 1 includes a precursors, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit 4 to generate an aerosol. The apparatus 2 includes a delivery system 8 for delivery of the aerosol to a user.

[0082] Electrical circuitry (not shown in figure 1) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generating unit 6.

[0083] Fig. 2 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1 , where the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol by a-heat not-burn process.

[0084] In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 50 and a consumable 70.

[0085] In this example, the body 50 includes the power supply 4 and a heating system 52. The heating system 52 includes an induction coil. The body may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 56, a memory 58, a wireless interface 60, one or more other components 62.

[0086] The electrical circuitry 56 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 50, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 58.

[0087] The wireless interface 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.

[0088] The other components) 62 may include an actuator, one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and / or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Fig. 3).The body 50 is configured to engage with the consumable 70. In use, a user may activate the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to cause the induction coil in the heating system 52 of the body 50 to heat up a susceptor of the consumable, and thus to heat the solid precursor 6 of the consumable (without combusting it) by conductive heat transfer from the susceptor, to generate an aerosol which is inhaled by the user.

[0089] Fig. 3 shows an example implementation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 of Fig. 2.

[0090] As depicted in Fig. 3, the consumable 70 is implemented as a stick, which is engaged with the body 50 by inserting the stick into an aperture at a top end 53 of the body 50.

[0091] The consumable 70 includes the solid precursor 6 proximal to the body 50, and a filter distal to the body 50. The filter serves as the mouthpiece of the consumable 70 and thus the apparatus 1 as a whole. The solid precursor s may include a reconstituted tobacco formulation.

[0092] In this example, the body 50 includes a cap 51. In use the cap 51 is engaged at a top end 53 of the body 50. Although not apparent from Fig. 3, the cap 51 is moveable relative to the body 50. In particular, the cap 51 is slidable and can slide along a longitudinal axis of the body 50.

[0093] The body 50 also includes an actuator 55 on an outer surface of the body 50. In this example, the actuator 55 has the form of a button.

[0094] The body 50 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user. Here, the user interface device is implemented as a plurality of lights 57, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated and / or to indicate a charging state of the power supply 4. Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user. The body may also include an airflow sensor which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the consumable 70). This may be used to count puffs, for example.

[0095] In this example, the consumable 70 includes a flow path which transmits aerosol generated by the at least one heating element 54 to the mouthpiece of the consumable.

[0096] In this example, the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 52 in combination with the susceptor, and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece of the consumable 70.

[0097] Fig.4 shows a consumable 100 for an HNB aerosol generating apparatus 202 which may be implemented according to any of the preceding examples. The consumable 100 comprises a substrate 104, which is a component of an aerosol precursor, a tubular outer conductive element 106 extending around the longitudinal axis of the consumable 100 and encasing the substrate 104, and a tubular inner conductive element 108 located within and extending through the substrate 104. The substrate 104 is cylindrical, having a circular upstream end face 104a and a circular downstream end face 104b, and both the outer 106 and the inner conductive elements 108 extend all the way from the upstream end face 104a to the downstream end face 104b.

[0098] The outer conductive element 106 and the inner conductive element 108 are not electrically coupled to one another.

[0099] Both the inner 108 and the outer 106 conductive elements are formed of inductively heatable foil (e.g., ferrous foil). Therefore, when the consumable 100 is inserted into a receiving cavity 210 of an aerosolgenerating apparatus 202, the consumable 100 may be inductively heated by an induction coil 212 located at or beneath a base 218a of the receiving cavity 210, as will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 5.

[0100] Advantageously, the consumable 100 comprising both the outer conductive element 106 and the inner conductive element 108 may allow the consumable 100 to be more uniformly heated. For example, both outside-in and inside-out heating may be achieved with such a consumable 100.

[0101] Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of an HNB aerosol generating system 201 according to the present disclosure, which includes an HNB aerosol generating apparatus 202 and an HNB consumable 200. The aerosol generating apparatus 202 comprises a receiving cavity 210 for receiving the consumable 200, and an induction coil 212 configured to inductively heat the consumable 200. The consumable 200 shown in Fig. 5 is different to that shown in Fig. 4. Nonetheless, the Fig. 4 consumable 100 could alternatively be used in the Fig. 5 aerosol generating apparatus 202.

[0102] The consumable 200 shown in Fig. 5 comprises a substrate 204 similar to that of Fig. 4 with an upstream end face 204a and downstream end face 204b, an outer conductive element 206 encasing the substrate 204 and forming an external wrapper of the consumable 200, and an inner conductive rod 208 located within and extending through a portion of the substrate 204. The substrate 204 extends along only a portion of the consumable length. Although not shown in Fig. 5, the consumable includes one or more filters and / or one or more cooling segments downstream of the substrate. The consumable 200 further comprises a conductive membrane 216 covering a portion of the upstream end face 204a of the substrate 204, which is thermally coupled to the outer conductive element 206 and the inner conductive rod 208. Similarly to the outer conductive element 206 and the inner conductive rod 208, the conductive membrane 216 is inductively heatable. Therefore, the presence of the conductive membrane 216 enables the substrate 204 to be more effectively heated by the induction coil 212 located beneath the receiving cavity 210. The conductive membrane 216 and the portion of the outer conductive element 206 and inner conductive rod 208 located closest to the induction coil 212 may be effectively heated by the induction coil 212 via induction heating, and the heat may be conducted up the outer conductive element 206 and the inner conductive rod 208 in a direction away from the induction coil 212 to spread the heat along the substrate 204.

[0103] Fig. 5 shows that the conductive membrane 216 extends across a diameter of the upstream end face 204a of the substrate 204. Although not visible in the figures, the conductive membrane 216 in fact extends around a circumference of the upstream end face 204a and defines one or more apertures, each defining a respective airflow inlet into the consumable 200. In this way, flow of air and / or aerosol through the consumable 200 may be improved, and air may be heated by the conductive membrane 216 as it flows into the consumable 200.

[0104] Turning to the aerosol generating apparatus 202, the receiving cavity 210 comprises a support wall 218 to support the upstream end face 204a of the consumable 200, which comprises the upstream end face 204a of the substrate 204 and the conductive membrane 216. That is, an upper surface 218a of the support wall 218 is configured to abut the upstream end face 204a of the consumable 200 when the consumable 200 is inserted into the receiving cavity 210. A lower surface 218b of the support wall 218is adjacent to the induction coil 212, and a magnetic field generated by the induction coil 212 may effectively enter the receiving cavity 210 through an opening 220 defined by the support wall 218. As shown in Fig. 5, the induction coil 212 corresponds to a flat spiral induction coil 212, which extends circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the receiving cavity 210 (which also corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the consumable 200).

[0105] The spiral induction coil 212 is shown in more detail in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows an internal component 222 of the aerosol generating apparatus 202, comprising a circumferential wall 224, which defines the receiving cavity 210, coupled to an upper rim 226a and a lower rim 226b, which, as can be seen in Fig.

[0106] 5, fixedly couple the internal component 222 to the external housing 228 of the aerosol generating apparatus 202. In addition, the lower rim 226b forms the support wall 218 configured to support the consumable 200 within the receiving cavity 210. The spiral induction coil 212 is adjacent the lower rim 226b and includes two contact portions 212a / b to electrically connect the induction coil 212 to an induction heating circuit of the aerosol generating apparatus 202.

[0107] Due to the induction coil 212 being located beneath the base 218a of the receiving cavity 210 (i.e., adjacent the lower surface 218b of the support wall 218), both the inner 208 and the outer conductive element 206 may be inductively heated by the induction coil 212. The system 201 may function similarly to an induction hob, for example. Further, the aerosol generating apparatus 202 may be less bulky compared to a device where the induction coil 212 extends around the receiving cavity 210, for example. Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of an HNB aerosol generating system 301 according to another aspect of the present disclosure, which includes an HNB aerosol generating apparatus 302 and an HNB consumable 300.

[0108] The aerosol generating apparatus 302 comprises a receiving cavity 310 for receiving the consumable 300, and an induction coil 312 extending around the receiving cavity 310.

[0109] The consumable 300 comprises a substrate 304, and a tubular inner conductive element 308 located within and extending through the substrate 304, encasing a portion of the substrate 304 within it. The substrate 304 is cylindrical, having a circular upstream end face 304a and a circular downstream end face 304b, and the inner conductive element 308 extends all the way from the upstream end face 304a to the downstream end face 304b. The inner conductive element 308 is formed of inductively heatable foil (e.g., ferrous foil). Therefore, when the consumable 300 is inserted into the receiving cavity 310 of the aerosol generating apparatus 302, the consumable 300 may be inductively heated by the induction coil 312 located around the receiving cavity 310.

[0110] Advantageously, such the inner conductive element 308 may enable more uniform heating of the substrate 304. For example, such a conductive element 308 may radiate and / or conduct heat outwards to an outer portion of the substrate 304 and inwards to an inner portion of the substrate 304.

[0111] P01510

Claims

CLAIMS1. A consumable (100, 200, 300) for an aerosol generating apparatus (202), the consumable (100, 200, 300) comprising:an aerosol precursor comprising a substrate (104, 204);an outer conductive element (106, 206) extending around a consumable axis and encasing the substrate (104, 204); and,an inner conductive element (108, 208) located within the substrate (104, 204),wherein the outer conductive element (106, 206) and the inner conductive element (108, 208) are each configured to heat the substrate (104, 204).

2. A consumable (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1 , wherein the outer conductive element (106, 206) and / or the inner conductive element (108, 208) are inductively heatable.

3. A consumable (100, 200, 300) according to claim 2, wherein the outer conductive element (106, 206) and / or the inner conductive element (108, 208) are formed of a ferrous material.

3. A consumable (100, 200, 300) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer conductive element (106, 206) extends from an upstream end face (104a, 204a) of the substrate (104, 204) towards a downstream end face (104b, 204b) of the substrate (104, 204).

4. A consumable (100, 200, 300) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner conductive element (108, 208) extends from an upstream end face (104a, 204a) of the substrate (104, 204) towards a downstream end face (104b, 204b) of the substrate (104, 204).

5. A consumable (100, 200, 300) according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the consumable (100, 200) further comprises a conductive membrane (216) covering at least a portion of the upstream end face (104a, 204a) of the substrate (104, 204), the conductive membrane (216) being thermally coupled to the outer conductive element (106, 206) and / or the inner conductive element (108, 208).

6. A consumable (100, 200) according to claim 5, wherein the conductive membrane (216) is formed of a ferrous material.

7. A consumable (100, 200) according to claim 6, wherein the conductive membrane (216) defines one or more apertures, each aperture defining a respective airflow inlet into the consumable (100, 200).

8. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner conductive element is tubular.P015109. A consumable (100, 200) according to claim 8, wherein the outer conductive element (106, 206) is thicker than the inner conductive element (108, 208).

10. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer conductive element (106, 206) is formed of a different material than the inner conductive element (108, 208).

11. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer conductive element (106, 206) forms an external wrapper of the consumable (100, 200).

12. An aerosol generating system (202) comprising a consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, when dependent upon claim 2, and an aerosol generating apparatus (202), wherein the aerosol generating apparatus (202) comprises:a receiving cavity (210) for receiving the consumable (100, 200); and,an induction coil (212) located at or beneath a base (218a) of the receiving cavity (210), the induction coil (212) configured for inductive heating or inductive detection of the consumable (100, 200).

13. An aerosol generating apparatus (202) according to claim 12, wherein the induction coil (212) is a spiral induction coil (212) extending around a coil axis which is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the receiving cavity (210).P01510

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