Consumable for an aerosol generating system
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/EP2026/053766
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-02-26
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-03
Smart Images
Figure EP2026053766_03092026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] 8465411
[0002] 1
[0003] CONSUMABLE FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM FIELD
[0004] The present disclosure relates to a consumable for an aerosol generating system.
[0005] BACKGROUND
[0006] 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. 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 the presence of induction coils can make the aerosol generating apparatus bulkier.
[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, the substrate having an upstream end face and a downstream end face; a conductive membrane, the conductive membrane covering at least a portion of the upstream end face of the substrate; and, an elongate conductive element in thermal contact with the substrate and the conductive membrane, the elongate conductive element extending from the conductive membrane along a consumable axis towards the downstream end face of the substrate.
[0010] Advantageously, the conductive membrane covering the portion of the substrate upstream end face enables the consumable to be heated by a heater (e.g., an induction coil) located at an upstream end of the consumable. The elongate conductive element being in thermal contact with the conductive membrane and the substrate enables the conductive element to conduct heat away from the conductive membrane and to distribute the heat to the substrate more evenly. Thus, the consumable may be 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.
[0011] Additionally, the conductive membrane covering the portion of the upstream end face of the substrate may enable the consumable to be heated predominantly at its upstream end face. In this way, the consumable may be able to better replicate traditional smoking. For example, the combination of the conductive membrane and the elongate conductive element (which may extend along or through only a portion of the substrate) may enable the consumable to be heated predominantly at its upstream end face without burning.
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[0014] The conductive membrane covering the portion of the upstream end face of the substrate may further improve the cleanliness of the device, as it may inhibit the substrate falling out of the consumable, for example after heating.
[0015] The conductive membrane may be thermally and / or electrically conductive. The conductive element may be thermally and / or electrically conductive.
[0016] In some examples the conductive membrane may be inductively heatable. In this way the conductive membrane may be heated by an induction coil located at an upstream end face of the consumable. 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., stainless steel). Inductively heatable may refer to a material which is magnetic, for example ferromagnetic, such as iron or steel. In this way, the conductive membrane may be more suitable for heating by an induction coil, for example by an induction coil located adjacent or proximate an end face of the consumable. Such an induction coil is described in further detail below.
[0017] In some examples, the conductive membrane may be formed of stainless steel with a nickel coating. In this way, a desirable Curie temperature of the conductive membrane may be achieved.
[0018] 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).
[0019] The consumable has a consumable axis, which may correspond to a longitudinal axis of the consumable, for example. The consumable axis may extend between the upstream end face and the downstream end face of the substrate. The upstream end face and the downstream end face may be transverse to the consumable axis. 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. In use, the consumable may be inserted into the receiving cavity via the upstream end face. 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
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[0022] improved. Additionally, or alternatively, air may be heated by the conductive membrane as it flows into the consumable.
[0023] 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.
[0024] 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.
[0025] 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. A portion of the upstream end face of the substrate be coaxial with the airflow bore (e.g., a portion of the upstream end face of the substrate may overlap with the airflow bore along the consumable axis). The conductive membrane may extend across, for example may cover, this portion of the upstream end face. That is, the conductive membrane may extend across the whole portion of the upstream end face which is coaxial with the airflow bore (or which overlaps with the airflow bore along the consumable axis). In this way, aerosolised precursor may more effectively and / or efficiently be incorporated into airflow through the consumable.
[0026] In some examples, the downstream end face of the substrate may abut a filter, for example the hollow filter.
[0027] 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.
[0028] 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 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.
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[0031] In some examples, the conductive membrane and / or the elongate conductive element may be formed of a foil (e.g., a ferrous foil).
[0032] In some examples, the elongate conductive element may be inductively heatable. In this way, the elongate conductive element may be heatable by induction coil located around receiving cavity, in addition to the conductive membrane being heatable by an induction coil located at or beneath a base of the receiving cavity. Advantageously, such an arrangement may provide enhanced control over the heating of the substrate.
[0033] In some examples, the elongate conductive element and the conductive membrane may be integrally formed. Advantageously, this may mean that the conductive membrane and / or the elongate conductive element are more durable.
[0034] In some examples, the conductive element may extend through at least a portion of the substrate. In this way, the substrate may be heated from the inside by the conductive element and more uniform heating of the substrate may be achieved. For example, the elongate conductive element may comprise a conductive rod. The elongate conductive element may comprise a conductive tube. The conductive tube may encase at least a portion of the substrate. In this way, more uniform heating of the substrate may be achieved. In some examples, the elongate conductive element may have a transverse cross-section which is cross-shaped. A transverse cross-section may refer to a crosssection which is taken transverse to the consumable axis. In this way, more uniform heating of the substrate may be achieved.
[0035] In some examples, the elongate conductive element may be located at the centre of the substrate. For example, the conductive 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.
[0036] The elongate conductive element may extend along or through at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% of a length of the substrate, or may extend along or through an entire length of the substrate. The elongate conductive element may extend along or through no more than 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70% of a length of the substrate,
[0037] For example, the elongate conductive element may extend along or through at least 50% of a length of the substrate, or the entire length of the substrate. In this way, more uniform heating may be achieved. In some examples, the elongate conductive element may extend along or through no more than 10% of a length of the substrate. In this way, the consumable may be able to better replicate traditional smoking.
[0038] 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.
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[0041] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating apparatus comprising a receiving cavity for receiving a consumable according to the first aspect; and an induction coil located at or beneath a base of the receiving cavity, the induction coil configured for inductive heating and / or inductive detection of the consumable.
[0042] 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 configured for 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.
[0043] 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, the substrate of the consumable may be heated via its upstream end face. The system may function similarly to an induction hob, for example.
[0044] 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.
[0045] 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 (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.
[0046] In some examples, the aerosol generating apparatus may additionally (or alternatively) include an induction coil extending (e.g., circumferentially) around the receiving cavity. For example, the
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[0049] induction coil may wrap around the receiving cavity and extend along at least part of the axial length of the receiving cavity. The induction coil may correspond to a helical coil. In this way, for example, different susceptors of the consumable (e.g., the conductive membrane and the elongate conductive element) may be heated by different induction coils. Advantageously, such an arrangement may provide enhanced control over the heating of the substrate.
[0050] 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 conductive 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.
[0051] In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating system comprising: a consumable; and an aerosol generating apparatus. The consumable comprises an aerosol precursor comprising a substrate, the substrate having an upstream end face and a downstream end face, and a conductive membrane, the conductive membrane covering at least a portion of the upstream end face of the substrate, wherein the conductive membrane is inductively heatable and / or detectable. The aerosol generating apparatus comprises 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 and / or inductive detection of the consumable.
[0052] For example, the consumable may be a consumable according to the first aspect and / or the aerosol generating apparatus may be an aerosol generating apparatus according to the second aspect. 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 suitable combination 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.
[0053] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0054] 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.
[0055] Fig. 1 is a block system diagram showing an example aerosol generating apparatus.
[0056] 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. Fig.3 is a schematic diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 2.
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[0059] Fig.4 shows a cross-section a consumable.
[0060] Fig. 5 shows a cross-section a consumable.
[0061] Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of an aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating apparatus and a consumable.
[0062] Fig. 7 shows a perspective side view of a consumable within a receiving cavity of an aerosol generating apparatus.
[0063] Fig. 8 shows a perspective side view of a consumable within a receiving cavity of an aerosol generating apparatus.
[0064] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0065] 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. 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.
[0066] Any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications mentioned in the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
[0067] 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 concept(s). 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.
[0068] 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.
[0069] 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
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[0072] 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).
[0073] 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.
[0074] 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’ embodiment(s) 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.
[0075] 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:
[0076] As used herein, an "aerosol generating apparatus" (or “electronic(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 user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and / or an airflow sensor.8465411
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[0078] 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).
[0079] 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.
[0080] 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. The substrate may have an elongate form with an elongate portion extending between an upstream face and a downstream face.
[0081] 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.
[0082] 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.
[0083] 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.
[0084] 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 directly8465411
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[0086] 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 units to generate a plurality of aerosols (for example, from a plurality of different aerosol precursors) may be present in an aerosol generating apparatus.
[0087] 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.
[0088] 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.
[0089] 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).
[0090] 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 precursor 6, 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.
[0091] Electrical circuitry (not shown in figure 1) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generating unit 6.
[0092] 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.
[0093] In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 50 and a consumable 70.8465411
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[0095] 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.
[0096] 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.
[0097] The wireless interface 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.
[0098] 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).
[0099] 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.
[0100] Fig. 3 shows an example implementation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 of Fig. 2.
[0101] 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.
[0102] 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 6 may include a reconstituted tobacco formulation.
[0103] 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.
[0104] 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.
[0105] 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.
[0106] 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.
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[0109] 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.
[0110] Fig .4 shows an HNB consumable 100 for an HNB aerosol generating apparatus 202 (shown in Fig. 6) which may be implemented according to any of the preceding examples. The consumable 100 comprises a cylindrical substrate 104, which forms a component of an aerosol precursor, a conductive membrane 106 covering a circular upstream end face 104a of the substrate 104, and an elongate conductive element 108 in the form of a rod in thermal contact with the conductive membrane 106 and extending through the substrate 104. The conductive rod 108 extends along the substrate’s central longitudinal axis towards the circular downstream end face 104b of the substrate 104.
[0111] Although a conductive rod 108 is shown in the example of Fig. 4., in other consumables, the conductive element may take different shapes, such as a tubular shape, for example. In some examples, the conductive element (e.g., the conductive rod 108) may extend through the entire length of the substrate 104.
[0112] The conductive membrane 106 is formed of inductively heatable foil (e.g., ferrous foil). The elongate conductive rod 108 is also formed of a conductive foil (e.g., aluminium foil). Therefore, when the consumable 100 is inserted into a receiving cavity of an aerosol generating apparatus 202, the conductive membrane 106 may be inductively heated by an induction coil located at or beneath a base of the receiving cavity, as will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 6. The conductive rod 108 may conduct heat in the conductive membrane 106 through the substrate 104 in a direction away from the induction coil to spread the heat more evenly the substrate 104.
[0113] In some examples, the elongate conductive rod 108 may be formed of inductively heatable foil (e.g., ferrous foil), similarly to the conductive membrane 106. Therefore, when the consumable 100 is inserted into a receiving cavity of an aerosol generating apparatus 202, the conductive rod 108 may additionally be inductively heated by an induction coil located around the receiving cavity, as will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 8.
[0114] Fig. 4 shows that the conductive membrane 106 extends across a diameter of the upstream end face 104a of the substrate 104. Although not visible in the figures, the conductive membrane 106 in fact extends around a circumference of the upstream end face 104a and defines one or more apertures, each defining a respective airflow inlet into the consumable 100. In this way, flow of air and / or aerosol through the consumable 100 may be improved, and air may be heated by the conductive membrane 106 as it flows into the consumable 100.
[0115] Fig. 5 shows an alternative HNB consumable 100 for an HNB aerosol generating apparatus 202, which includes a filter 109 located downstream of the substrate. The consumable 100 shares several features of the consumable 100 of Fig. 4, which will not be described again with reference to Fig. 5, but which are labelled with like reference numerals. As shown in Fig. 5, the filter 109 defines an
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[0118] airflow bore 111, and the conductive membrane 106 extends across the whole portion of the upstream end face 104a which is coaxial with the airflow bore 111.
[0119] Fig. 6 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.
[0120] The consumable 200 shown in Fig. 6 comprises a substrate 204 similar to that of Fig. 4 with an upstream end face 204a and downstream end face 204b, an elongate conductive rod 208 located within and extending through a portion of the substrate 204, and a conductive membrane 206 covering a portion of the upstream end face 204a of the substrate 204. The substrate 204 extends along only a portion of the consumable 200 length. Although not shown in Fig. 6, the consumable 200 includes one or more filters and or cooling elements downstream of the substrate 204.
[0121] 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 206. 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 218 is 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.
[0122] As shown in Fig. 6, the induction coil 212 is 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).
[0123] The spiral induction coil 212 is shown in more detail in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 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. 6, 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.
[0124] Due to the induction coil 212 being located beneath the base 218a of the receiving cavity 210 (i.e., adjacent the lower surface of the support wall 218), the conductive membrane 206 can be inductively heated by the induction coil 212. That is to say, the system may function similarly to an induction hob. Heat may be conducted form the conductive membrane 206 through the substrate 204 via the elongate conductive rod 208. In addition, the aerosol generating apparatus 202 may be less bulky
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[0127] compared to a device where the induction coil 212 extends around the receiving cavity 210, for example.
[0128] Nonetheless, in some examples, the aerosol generating apparatus 202 may additionally (or alternatively) include a helical induction coil 213 which extends around the receiving cavity 210. In this way, for example, different susceptors of the consumable 200 (e.g., the conductive membrane 206 and the elongate conductive rod 208) may be heated by the different induction coils 212, 213.
[0129] Advantageously, such an arrangement may provide enhanced control over the heating of the substrate 204. Fig. 8 shows the internal component 222 of the aerosol generating apparatus 202 which has an induction coil 213 wrapped around its circumferential wall 224, in addition to the spiral induction coil 212 located adjacent the support wall lower rim 226b. The helical induction coil 213 includes two contact portions 213a / b to electrically connect the induction coil 212 to an induction heating circuit of the aerosol generating apparatus 202, which may be the same or different to the induction heating circuit to which the spiral induction coil 212 is electrically coupled.
[0130] Although the induction coil of the above-described embodiments is configured to inductively heat the consumable, in other embodiments the induction coil may be additionally or alternatively configured to inductively detect the consumable.
[0131] P01509
Claims
846541115CLAIMS1. A consumable (100, 200) for an aerosol generating apparatus (202), the consumable (100, 200) comprising:an aerosol precursor comprising a substrate (104, 204), the substrate (104, 204) having an upstream end face (104a, 204a) and a downstream end face (104b, 204b);a conductive membrane (106, 206), the conductive membrane (106, 206) covering at least a portion of the upstream end face (104a, 204a) of the substrate (104, 204); and,an elongate conductive element (108, 208) in thermal contact with the substrate (104, 204) and the conductive membrane (106, 206), the elongate conductive element (108, 208) extending from the conductive membrane (106, 206) along a consumable axis towards the downstream end face (104b, 204b) of the substrate (104, 204).
2. A consumable (100, 200) according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive membrane (106, 206) is inductively heatable.
3. A consumable (100, 200) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the conductive membrane (106, 206) defines one or more apertures, each aperture defining a respective airflow inlet into the consumable (100, 200).
4. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the consumable (100, 200) includes a hollow filter downstream of the substrate, the hollow filter defining an airflow bore,wherein a portion of the upstream end face (104a, 204a) of the substrate (104, 204) is coaxial with the bore, andwherein the conductive membrane (106, 206) extends across the portion of the upstream end face (104a, 204a) which overlaps with the airflow bore.
5. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate conductive element (108, 208) is inductively heatable.
6. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate conductive element (108, 208) extends through at least a portion of the substrate (104, 204).
7. A consumable (100, 200) according to claim 6, wherein the elongate conductive element (108, 208) comprises a conductive rod.
8. A consumable (100, 200) according to claim 6, wherein the elongate conductive element comprises a conductive tube.P015098465411169. A consumable (100, 200) according to claim 8, wherein the conductive tube encases at least a portion of the substrate (104, 204).
10. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the conductive membrane (106, 206) covers at least 90% of an area of the upstream end face (104a, 204a) of the substrate (104, 204).
11. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate conductive element (108, 208) extends along at least 20% of a length of the substrate (104, 204).
12. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of claims 1 - 10, wherein the elongate conductive element (108, 208) extends along or through no more than 10% of a length of the substrate (104, 204).
13. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a thickness of the conductive membrane (106, 206) is no greater than 1.5 mm.
14. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the conductive membrane (106, 206) is formed of stainless steel with a nickel coating.
15. A consumable (100, 200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the consumable (100, 200) comprises a wrapper covering an exposed face of the conductive membrane (106, 206) and securing the conductive membrane (106, 206) in thermal contact with the upstream end face (104a, 204a).
16. A consumable (100, 200) according to claim 15 wherein the wrapper is a paper wrapper.
17. A consumable (100, 200) according to claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the exposed face of the conductive membrane (106, 206) is a surface of the conductive membrane (106, 206) which faces away from the substrate (104, 204).
18. An aerosol generating system comprising a consumable (100, 200), and an aerosol generating apparatus (202), wherein the consumable (100, 200) comprises:an aerosol precursor comprising a substrate (104, 204), the substrate (104, 204) having an upstream end face (104a, 204a) and a downstream end face (104b, 204b);a conductive membrane (106, 206), the conductive membrane (106, 206) covering at least a portion of the upstream end face (104a, 204a) of the substrate (104, 204), wherein the conductive membrane (106, 206) is inductively heatable and / or detectable;and wherein the aerosol generating apparatus (202) comprises:a receiving cavity (210) for receiving the consumable (100, 200); and,P01509846541117an induction coil located at or beneath a base of the receiving cavity (210), the induction coil configured for inductive heating and / or inductive detection of the consumable (100, 200).
19. An aerosol generating system according to claim 18, wherein the induction coil is a spiral induction coil extending around a coil axis which is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the receiving cavity (210).
20. An aerosol generating apparatus (202) comprising:a receiving cavity (210) for receiving a consumable (100, 200),a first induction coil (213) wrapping around the receiving cavity (210) and extending along at least part of the axial length of the receiving cavity (210), the first induction coil (213) configured to inductively heat, or configured for inductive detection of the consumable (100, 200); and,a second induction coil (212) located at or beneath a base of the receiving cavity (210), the second induction coil (212) configured to inductively heat, or configured for inductive detection of the consumable (100, 200).P01509