DEVICE FOR HEATING AEROSOL-FORMING SUBSTRATE WITH AIR PREHEAT

Abstract

A shisha device comprises (i) a vessel having an interior volume configured to contain a liquid; and (ii) a receptacle configured to receive a cartridge including an aerosol-forming substrate. The shisha device comprises a heating element configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate when the cartridge is received in the receptacle. The shisha device has a receptacle inlet in communication with, and upstream of, the receptacle and has a receptacle outlet in communication with, and downstream of, the receptacle. The shisha device comprises a conduit in communication with the receptacle outlet and extending into the vessel via the vessel inlet. The shisha comprises an air inlet channel in communication with an ambient environment and the receptacle inlet. The air inlet channel extends along an exterior of the conduit.

Claims

1. A shisha device comprising: a vessel comprising an interior volume configured to contain a liquid, the vessel comprising a vessel inlet and a headspace outlet; receptacle configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate or to receive a cartridge comprising the aerosol-forming substrate; a heating element configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate when the aerosol-forming substrate or the cartridge comprising the aerosol-forming substrate is received in the receptacle; a receptacle inlet in communication with, and upstream of, the receptacle; a receptacle outlet in communication with, and downstream of, the receptacle; a conduit in communication with the receptacle outlet and extending into the vessel via the vessel inlet; and an air inlet channel in communication with an ambient environment and the receptacle inlet, wherein the air inlet channel extends along an outer surface of the conduit.

2. The shisha device according to claim 1, comprising a heat exchange element extending from the outer surface of the conduit to at least partially define a portion of the air inlet channel.

3. The shisha device according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchange element is integrally formed with the conduit.

4. The shisha device according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchange element comprises a fin.

5. The shisha device according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchange element comprises a heat-conducting material.

6. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a heat-conducting material.

7. The shisha device according to claim 6, wherein the heat conducting material comprises aluminum, alumina, or an aluminum alloy.

8. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to an extent sufficient to volatilize one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate without combusting the aerosol-forming substrate.

9. The shisha device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller operably coupled to the heating element, wherein the controller is configured to control heating of the heating element such that the heating element heats the aerosol-forming substrate to an extent sufficient to volatilize one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate without combusting the aerosol-forming substrate.

10. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element forms at least a portion of the receptacle.

11. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein, in use, air travels from the ambient environment through the air inlet channel, to the receptacle inlet, through the receptacle, out the receptacle outlet, through the conduit, into the vessel, and out the headspace outlet.

12. The shisha device according to claim 11, wherein air flowing through the air inlet channel cools air flowing through the conduit.

13. The system comprising: a shisha device according to claim 1; and the aerosol-forming substrate.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate is provided in a cartridge.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate comprises tobacco.

Description

[0098] Reference will now be made to the drawings, which depict one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

[0099] FIG. 1 is a schematic overview illustrating an embodiment of a principle of operation of an aerosol-generating device in accordance with the teachings presented herein;

[0100] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an example of a shisha device;

[0101] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a top portion of a shisha device; and

[0102] FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a schematic top cross-sectional view taken at line A-A of FIG. 3.

[0103] Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components. The use of different numbers to refer to components in different figures is not intended to indicate that the different numbered components cannot be the same or similar to other numbered components. The figures are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Schematic drawings presented in the figures are not necessarily to scale.

[0104] FIG. 1 is a schematic overview illustrating an embodiment of a principle of operation of an aerosol-generating device in accordance with the teachings presented herein. As shown in FIG. 1, ambient air 1 enters the aerosol-generating device and flows through a location where heat from aerosol is transferred to the air 1 to produce heated air 2. The heated air 2 may then contact heated aerosol-forming substrate 3 to entrain one or more volatilized components in a heated aerosol 4. The heated aerosol 4 flows past the location where heat is transferred 10 to the incoming air 1, which cools the aerosol to result in cooled aerosol 5. Thus, the scheme shown in FIG. 1 illustrates the concept of thermal energy recycling in accordance with the teachings presented herein.

[0105] Preheating the air as shown in FIG. 1 may result in a more energy efficient aerosol-generating device because less energy may be needed to heat the aerosol forming substrate to an extent sufficient to volatilize one or more components of the substrate without combusting the substrate.

[0106] Cooling the aerosol as shown in FIG. 1 may result in increased nucleation of the aerosol. Increased nucleation may result in increased aerosol production. For example, one or both of visible aerosol volume and total aerosol mass may be increased.

[0107] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an example of a shisha device 100. The shisha device includes control electronics 30 and power supply 35. The shisha device 100 also includes a vessel 17 defining an interior volume configured to contain liquid 19 and defining a headspace outlet 15 above a fill level for the liquid 19. The liquid 19 preferably includes water, which may optionally be infused with one or more colorants, one or more flavourants, or one or more colorants and one or more flavourants. For example, the water may be infused with one or both of botanical infusions and herbal infusions.

[0108] The device 100 also includes an aerosol-generating element 130. The aerosol-generating element 130 includes a receptacle 140 configured to receive a cartridge 200 comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating element 130 may also include a heating element 160. The heating element 160 may form at least one surface of the receptacle 140. In the depicted embodiment, the heating element 160 defines the side surfaces of the receptacle 140. The heating element 160 is operably coupled to the control electronics 30 and the power supply 35.

[0109] The aerosol-generating element 130 also includes an air inlet channel 170 that draws air into the device 100 through inlet 137. A portion of the air inlet channel 170 extends along an outer surface 191 of the conduit 190. For example, at least a portion of the air inlet channel 170 may be defined by the outer surface 191 of conduit 190. Heated aerosol flows through the interior of the conduit 190. Heat from the aerosol may be transferred via the conduit 190 to air in the inlet channel 170.

[0110] A portion of the air inlet channel 170 may optionally be formed by the heating element 160 to optionally further heat the air before the air enters the receptacle 140. The preheated air enters the receptacle 140 through receptacle inlet 143, entering the cartridge 200 to carry aerosol generated by the aerosol former and the aerosol-forming substrate. The air exits an outlet 147 of the aerosol-generating element 130 and enters the conduit 190.

[0111] The conduit 190 carries the air and aerosol into the vessel 17 below the level of the liquid 19. The air and aerosol may bubble through the liquid 19 and exit the headspace outlet 15 of the vessel 17. A hose 20 may be attached to the headspace outlet 15 to carry the aerosol to the mouth of a user. A mouthpiece 25 may be attached to, or form a part of, the hose 20.

[0112] An exemplary air flow path of the device, in use, is depicted by thick arrows in FIG. 2. As shown in the air flow path, air from an external environment enters the device 100 through inlet 137, then passes along outer surface 191 of conduit 190, where it is preheated by heat exchange with aerosol in the conduit 190, then around outside of the receptacle 140 (optionally past heating element 160), then entering the receptacle 140 at an inlet 143, then through the substrate in the cartridge 200 in the receptacle 140 where one or more volatilized components of the substrate are entrained in the air to form an aerosol. The aerosol then flows out the receptacle outlet 147 and down the conduit 190. As the aerosol travels down the conduit 190, it is cooled by more air entering at inlet 137 that is flowing through channel 170 past the outer surface 191 of the conduit 191, exchanging heat with the aerosol in the conduit 190. The cooled aerosol exits the conduit 190 through a conduit outlet 197 below liquid fill level 21. Then, the aerosol may bubble through the liquid 19, exit the headspace outlet 15, flow through the hose 20, and exit the mouthpiece 25.

[0113] The mouthpiece 25 may include an activation element 27. The activation element 27 may be a switch, button or the like, or may be a puff sensor or the like. The activation element 27 may be placed at any other suitable location of the device 100. The activation element 27 may be in wireless communication with the control electronics 30 to place the device 100 in condition for use or to cause control electronics to activate the heating element 160; for example, by causing power supply 35 to energize the heating element 160.

[0114] The control electronics 30 and power supply 35 may be located in any suitable position of the aerosol-generating element 130, including locations other than the bottom portion of the element 130 as depicted in FIG. 1.

[0115] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a top portion 115 of a shisha device. The top portion 115 may be removably coupled with a vessel portion (not shown in FIG. 3). The top portion 115 includes a lid 198 that may be opened to allow insertion of a cartridge 200 comprising aerosol generating substrate into a receptacle such that the cartridge 200 is in contact with, or close proximity to, heating element 160. Heating element 160 may form a portion of the surface of the receptacle configured to receive the cartridge 200. The top portion 115 includes a conduit 190 extending from the receptacle outlet 147 beyond a bottom of a base of the top portion 115 such that, when the top portion 115 is coupled to the vessel, the conduit extends in the vessel below a liquid fill level. A seal 197, such as an o-ring, may be disposed about the conduit 190 at the base of the top portion 115. The top portion 115 includes an inlet 137 to allow ambient air to enter air inlet channel 170. At least a portion of the air inlet channel 170 is formed by an outer surface of the conduit 190. The air inlet channel 170 is optionally partially defined by an outer surface of the heating element 160.

[0116] A heat exchange element 155 extends from the outer surface of the conduit 190 into, and defining at least a part of, the air inlet channel 170. Heat may be transferred from heated aerosol flowing through the conduit 190 to air flowing through the air inlet channel 170. The heat exchange element 155 may facilitate the transfer of heat. The heat exchange element 155 has a large surface area relative to the external surface of the conduit 190. The relative ratio of surface area contributes to the heat exchange effect. The heat exchange improves the energy consumption of the shisha device due to recycling of thermal energy. This results in improved energy efficiency of the shisha device due to a reduction in the amount of energy needed to generate aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge 200.

[0117] An exemplary air flow path of the device, in use, is depicted by thick arrows in FIG. 3.

[0118] While in use, ambient air, with its atmospheric characteristics in terms of temperature and humidity, is drawn into the inlet 137 and through air inlet channel 170. When passing the heat exchange element 155, the air heats up, cooling down the aerosol inside the conduit 190. The air is preheated even before optionally contacting the heating element 160, where the air may be further preheated prior to entering the cartridge 200 to contact the aerosol-forming substrate and entrain volatilized constituents to be carried through the conduit 190.

[0119] FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a schematic top cross-sectional view taken at line A-A of FIG. 3. The heat exchange element 155 includes a plurality of fins 157 extending from the outer surface of the conduit 190 into, and at least partially defining, the air inlet channel 170. As heated aerosol flows through the interior cavity 191 of the conduit 190, heat is transferred to air in the inlet channel 170 via the conduit 190 and the heat exchange element 155. The heat exchange element 155 and the conduit 190 may be integrally formed.

[0120] The fins 155 may be of any suitable shape. For example, the fins may be helix-shaped or of any other suitable shape that facilitates heat transfer from the aerosol in cavity 191 of the conduit 190 to air in the air inlet channel 170. The heat exchange element 155 may have any suitable number of fins.

[0121] Thus, shisha devices configured to recapture thermal energy are described. Various modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are apparent to those skilled in the mechanical arts, chemical arts, and aerosol-generating article manufacturing or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.