Aerosol Generating Device with Non-Linear Airflow Channels

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed towards an aerosol generating device. More specifically, the invention is directed towards an aerosol generating device comprising an air flow channeling assembly with non-linear air flow channels. In a first aspect, the invention provides an aerosol generating device comprising a chamber configured to receive and supply heated air to an aerosol generating substrate, an air flow channeling assembly configured to deliver outside air into the chamber comprising a plurality of nonlinear air flow channels, wherein each air flow channel extends along a side wall of the chamber from an inlet opened toward the outside of the device to an outlet for discharging the delivered air to the chamber, and a heating unit configured to apply heat to the air flow channels.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a chamber configured to receive and supply heated air to an aerosol generating substrate; an air flow channeling assembly configured to deliver outside air into the chamber, comprising a plurality of nonlinear air flow channels, wherein each air flow channel extends along a side wall of the chamber from an inlet opened toward the outside of the device to an outlet for discharging the delivered air to the chamber; and a heating unit configured to apply heat to the air flow channels.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nonlinear air flow channels is formed by a plurality of tubes.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of tubes is arranged as an n-tuple helix, with the number n matches the number of tubes.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 3, wherein the n-tuple helix comprises at least two congruent helices.

5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 3, wherein windings of each of the plurality of helices are evenly spaced apart in a direction of a winding axis of the n-tuple helix and/or a distance in the direction of the winding axis of the n-tuple helix between a winding of one of the helices and a neighboring winding of another of the helices is at most 2 mm.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein an outside wall of the aerosol generating device and/or the side wall of the chamber do not form part of the confining physical boundary of the air flow channel within the aerosol generating device.

7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the air flow channel is formed by a thermally conductive material.

8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 7, wherein the thermally conductive material comprises material with a thermal conductivity equal or larger than $100\frac{W}{m.Math.K}.$

9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is additionally configured to heat the side wall of the chamber.

10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 9, wherein the heating unit.

11. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein a position of the air inlets and/or air outlets of the plurality of air flow channels are provided, respectively, in a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the chamber.

12. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises an opening at the bottom of the chamber that is opposite another opening of the chamber that is configured to allow the aerosol generating substrate to be at least partially or fully inserted into the chamber, the bottom of the chamber being in communication with each of the plurality of air outlets.

13. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, comprising a diffuser element arranged at the air outlets such that air exiting the air outlets passes through the diffuser.

14. The aerosol generating device according to claim 13, wherein the diffuser element comprises a porous material.

15. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein at least 50% of the length of the non-linear air flow channels extends along the side wall.

16. The aerosol generating device according to claim 5, wherein distance in the direction of the winding axis of the n-tuple helix between a winding of one of the helices and a neighboring winding of another of the helices is at most 0.5 mm.

17. The aerosol generating device according to claim 15, wherein an entire length of the non-linear air flow channels extends along the side wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate a schematic perspective view, side view and top view, respectively, of a chamber with a heating unit and non-linear air flow channels of an aerosol generating device according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 1, an aerosol generating device 100 comprises a housing 110. The housing 110 is configured such that it may accommodate a chamber 200 that is capable of at least partially receiving an aerosol generating substrate 105 for generating an aerosol in the chamber 120. The chamber 120 is open to one side of the aerosol generating device 100 such that the aerosol generating substrate 105 may be at least partially be inserted into the chamber 120. The aerosol generating substrate 105 may be any substrate suitable for an aerosol based on an e-vapor or t-vapor. The aerosol generating substrate 105 may include a tobacco material in various forms such as shredded tobacco and granulated tobacco, and/or the tobacco material may include tobacco leaf and/or reconstituted tobacco if it is suitable for a t-vapor.

[0037] The chamber 200 may be configured such that a sidewall 210 of the chamber is spaced apart from a corresponding sidewall of the housing 110 such that a sufficient space 230 is formed. While the chamber 200 is shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C to have a substantially cylindrical base, the base may be of any appropriate shape such as of a rectangular, elliptic, polygonal or irregular shape.

[0038] Within the space 230, a first non-linear air flow channel 300 and a second non-linear air flow channel 310 may be provided. The first non-linear air flow channel 300 may extend along a side wall of the chamber from air inlet 300a, opened to an outside of the aerosol generating device, to air outlet 300b, opened towards the chamber 200. The second non-linear air flow channel 310 may extend along a side wall of the chamber from air inlet 310a, opened towards an outside of the aerosol generating device 100, to air outlet 310b for discharging air to the chamber 200. While it is ideally preferable that the entire length of the first air flow channel 300 and/or the second air flow channel 310 extends along the side wall of the chamber, depending on the spatial configuration and varying space requirements inside an aerosol generating device, this may not always be possible. To reduce the spatial requirements of the non-linear air flow channels and to increase any thermal insulating properties of the non-linear air flow channels 300, 310 for providing thermal insulation of the heating chamber 120 to the outside of the aerosol generating device 100, it is preferred that at least 50%, preferably 60%, more preferably 70%, even more preferably 80%, even more preferably 90%, most preferably 100% of the length of the non-linear air flow channels 300, 310 extends along the side wall of the heating chamber 120.

[0039] The air inlet 300a of the first non-linear airflow channel 300 and the air inlet 310a of the second non-linear air flow channel may be positioned at the same height, meaning in the same plane that is perpendicular to the central axis of the chamber 200, or at different heights, meaning in different parallel planes that are perpendicular to the central axis of the chamber 200. Furthermore, the air outlet 300b of the first non-linear airflow channel 300 and the air outlet 310b of the second non-linear air flow channel may be positioned at the same height, meaning in the same plane that is perpendicular to the central axis of the chamber 200, or at different heights, meaning in different parallel planes that are perpendicular to the central axis of the chamber 200. While the air inlets 300a and 310a are illustrated to be positioned with an angle of substantially 180° in rotation around the central axis of the chamber 200 to each other, they may be positioned with any suitable rotation angle to each other. Furthermore, while the air outlets 300b and 310b are illustrated to be positioned with an angle of substantially 180° in rotation around the central axis of the chamber 200 to each other, they may be positioned with any suitable rotation angle to each other.

[0040] The first non-linear air flow channel 300 and/or the second non-linear air flow channel 310 may be formed by a first and second tube, that may be formed as a first helix and a second helix. Furthermore, the first helix and the second helix may be congruent to each other. The first helix and the second helix may be arranged in a double helix. The winding axis of the double helix should be substantially parallel to the central axis of the chamber 200 extending in the direction of the length of the chamber 200.

[0041] Furthermore, the windings of each of the first and second helix may be evenly spaced apart in the direction of the winding axis of the helix. Preferably, the distance in the direction of the winding axis of the n-tuple helix between a winding of one of the helices and a neighboring winding of another of the helices is at most 2 mm, preferably at most 1 mm, more preferably at most 0.5 mm, and most preferably substantially o (not shown in the figures).

[0042] The first air flow channel 300 and/or the second air flow channel 310 may be formed from a thermally conductive material. Thermally conductive means that the material or combination of materials may have a thermal conductivity equal to or larger than 100

[00008]$\frac{W}{m.Math.K},$

preferably 150

[00009]$\frac{W}{m.Math.K},$

more preferably 200

[00010]$\frac{W}{m.Math.K},$

even more preferably 250

[00011]$\frac{W}{m.Math.K},$

even more preferably 300

[00012]$\frac{W}{m.Math.K},$

even more preferably 350

[00013]$\frac{W}{m.Math.K},$

most preferably 400

[00014]$\frac{W}{m.Math.K},.$

[0043] The thermally conductive material may be or may comprise copper, aluminum, copper-nickel, stainless steel, Hastelloy, Inconel, titanium and/or any suitable heat exchanger material.

[0044] In a space 230 provided between the chamber sidewall 210 and the housing 110 sidewall, a heating unit 220 configured to heat the first and second non-linear air flow channels 300 and 310 may be provided. Furthermore, an additional heating unit configured to heat the chamber 200 may be provided. While the heating unit configured to heat the chamber 200 and the heating unit configured to heat the first and second non-linear air flow channels 300 and 310 may be distinct heating units separate from each other, the heating unit configured to heat the chamber 200 may also be configured to heat the first and second non-linear airflow channels 300 and 310. For achieving this, the heating unit 220 may be provided along the sidewall 210 of the chamber 200. The heating unit 220 may be provided on at least parts of the inner surface of the sidewall 210 and/or on at least parts of the outer surface of the sidewall 210 of the chamber 200. When provided on at least parts of the outer surface of the sidewall 210 of the chamber 200, the heating unit 220 is provided between the sidewall 210 of the chamber and the first and second non-linear air flow channels 300 and 310 such that the first and second non-linear air flow channels 300 and 310 may adjoin the heating unit 220. Furthermore, the heating unit may comprise one or more film heaters provided on at least parts of the sidewall 210. The one or more film heaters may comprise a resin that comprises polyimide, silicone and/or PEEK. Additionally, or alternatively, the heating unit 220 may comprise one or more heating tapes or heating wires provided on at least parts of the sidewall 210. The heating tapes and/or heating wires may be provided on at least parts of the sidewall 210 such that a position of the heating tapes and/or heating wires corresponds to the position of the windings of the first and/or second non-linear air flow channels 300 and/or 310.

[0045] The space 230 may be provided with an insulating member (not shown). The insulating member may cover at least parts or all of the inner surface of the housing and surround the non-linear air flow channels 300 and 310 as well as the chamber 200 in axial directions with respect to the central axis of the chamber 200. Additionally, or alternatively, the insulating member may also be provided such that the first and second non-linear air flow channels are at least partially embedded within the insulating material. Furthermore, when embedding the first and second non-linear air flow channels 300 and 310 in the insulating material, the insulating member may take up the entire space 230 between the chamber sidewall 210 and the sidewall of the housing 110.

[0046] The aerosol generating device 100 may further be provided with a diffusing element 150 located at the air outlets 300b and 310b. Depending on the configuration of the chamber 200 and the housing 110, the air diffusing element 150 may be provided in the chamber 200 at the bottom of the chamber, and the air outlet 300b and 310b are opened towards the diffusing element 150 such that any air discharged from the air outlet 300b and 310b passes through the diffusing element. The bottom of the chamber is typically opposite the opening of the chamber that is configured to allow the aerosol generating substrate to be at least partially or fully inserted into the chamber. Additionally, or alternatively, the chamber 200 may be provided with a bottom opening. The diffusing element 150 may then be positioned in the bottom opening or upstream of the bottom opening in an air flow direction. Air outlets 300b and 310b are then positioned such that any air discharged from the air outlet 300b and 310b passes the diffusing element 150 before reaching the bottom opening and entering the chamber 200. The diffusing element may in general comprise any porous material that is suitable with regard to thermal stability and air ventilation properties of the material.

[0047] The aerosol generating device 100 may further comprise a mobile power source 130 such as a battery, for supplying power to the aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol. Furthermore, control circuitry 140 may be provided for controlling any function for operating and/or controlling the aerosol generating device loft A charging port 141 may be provided for allowing the mobile power source 130 to be charged by any suitable means. Additionally, or alternatively, the mobile power source 130 may be exchangeable/replaceable.

[0048] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, the chamber 200 may be provided with a heating unit 220 that covers at least parts of the outer surface of the sidewall 210 of chamber 200. The chamber 200 may be a chamber as described above in the context of FIG. 1.

[0049] The chamber 200 may have different base shapes. The heating unit 220 may be a heating unit as described above in the context of FIG. 1. For example, the heating unit 220 may comprise one or more film heaters and/or heating tapes and be provided on the outer surface and/or the inner surface of the chamber sidewall 210. A first helical tube 300 and a second helical tube 310 are arranged in a double helix. The air inlet 300a of the first helical tube 300 and the air inlet 310a of the second helical tube 310 may be provided at the same height, meaning in the same plane perpendicular to the winding axis and central axis of the chamber 200. The first and second helical tubes 300 and 310 may be formed as described for the first and second non-linear air flow channels in the context of FIG. 1. For example, the first and second helical tube 300 and 310 may be formed of a thermally conductive material. The double helix comprising the first and second helical tube 300 and 310 may be wound around the heating unit 220 that is provided on at least parts of the sidewall 210 such that the heating unit 220 is disposed between the first and second helical tubes 300 and 310 and the outer surface of the sidewall 210 of the chamber 200.

[0050] It will be apparent to the skilled person that, while the number of air flow channels as shown in any of the FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C is two, in any embodiment of the present invention, any suitable plurality of air flow channels may be provided, for example three, four, or five air flow channels. If the number n matches the number of non-linear air flow channels, the air inlets and/or air outlets of the plurality of non-linear air flow channels may be positioned with an angle of for example 360°/n between each position instead of an angle of 180° as described in the context of any one of the FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C. Each of the plurality of air flow channels may be an air flow channel as described for the first air flow channel 300 and/or the second air flow channel 310 in the context of any one of the FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C.

[0051] While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the scope of this disclosure, as defined by the independent and dependent claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS USED IN THE DRAWINGS

[0052] 100: aerosol generating device [0053] 105: aerosol generating substrate [0054] 110: housing [0055] 120: chamber [0056] 130: power supply [0057] 140: PCB/control circuit [0058] 141: charging port [0059] 150: diffusing element [0060] 200: chamber [0061] 210: chamber wall [0062] 220: heating unit [0063] 230: space [0064] 300/310: air flow channel [0065] 300a/310a: air inlet [0066] 300b/310b: air outlet