AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH OFFSET AIRFLOW CHANNEL

Abstract

The invention relates to an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device comprises an air inlet. The aerosol-generating device comprises an air outlet. The aerosol-generating device comprises a heating element. The heating element comprises a mesh heater in fluid communication with the air inlet. The aerosol-generating device comprises a first airflow channel extending from the heating element in a first direction along the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device comprises a second airflow channel arranged downstream of the first airflow channel and extending from the first airflow channel to the air outlet in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are different from each other.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating device comprising: an air inlet; an air outlet; a heating element, wherein the heating element comprises a mesh heater in fluid communication with the air inlet; a first airflow channel extending from the heating element in a first direction along the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device; and a second airflow channel arranged downstream of the first airflow channel and extending from the first airflow channel to the air outlet in a second direction; and wherein the first direction and the second direction are different from each other.

2. The aerosol-generating according to claim 1, wherein the first airflow channel is arranged laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.

3. The aerosol-generating according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the second airflow channel increases in a downstream direction.

4. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a third airflow channel extending between the air inlet and the heating element.

5. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 4, wherein the third airflow channel is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.

6. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 4, wherein the third airflow channel is perpendicularly arranged to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.

7. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 4, wherein the third airflow channel is arranged to draw ambient air across the heating element.

8. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the first airflow channel has a circular cross-section.

9. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the second airflow channel is shaped to direct the airflow laterally towards the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.

10. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein a downstream end face of the second airflow channel is centrally arranged on the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.

11. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the mesh heater is centrally arranged on the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.

12. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is substantially flat.

13. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is configured as an electrically resistive metal heater.

14. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a liquid storage portion, wherein the liquid storage portion comprises an opening and wherein the mesh heater is arranged extending across the opening.

15. An aerosol-generating system comprising the aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 and an aerosol-forming substrate.

Description

[0049] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a mouthpiece of an aerosol-generating device according to the invention.

[0051] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the aerosol-generating device according to invention.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a mouthpiece 10 of the aerosol-generating device according to the invention. In operation, a consumer draws on an air outlet 24 which causes an airflow from an air inlet 12 to the air outlet 24. The flow path of the airflow from the air inlet 12 to the air outlet 24 is indicated by the series of dashed line arrows. The aerosol-generating device comprises the air inlet 12 and a third airflow channel 14. Air may be drawn into the aerosol-generating device though the air inlet 12. The air drawn into the air inlet 12 then enters the third airflow channel 14. The air is guided through the third airflow channel 14 towards the heating element 16. The third airflow channel 14 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 26 of the aerosol-generating device. The heating element 16 is substantially flat and extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 26 of the aerosol-generating device. The heating element 16 is configured as a mesh heater. The heating element 16 may have a circular or rectangular shape. The air is directed across the heating element 16 towards a first airflow channel 20. The heating element 16 volatizes at least one component of an aerosol-forming substrate (not shown). The aerosol-forming substrate may be delivered to the heating element 16 by a capillary material (not shown). The volatized component may be entrained in the air being drawn across the heating element 16. In this way, an aerosol may be formed. The aerosol may flow from the heating element 16 towards and into the first airflow channel 20. Between the heating element 16 and the first airflow channel 20, the air flows in an L-shaped bend. The L-shaped bend may be part of the downstream end of the third airflow channel 14 or of the first airflow channel 20. The first airflow channel 20 may be cylindrically-shaped with a constant diameter along the length of the first airflow channel 20. The longitudinal axis 28 in the center of the cylindrical first airflow channel 20 is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis 26 of the aerosol-generating device. The first airflow channel 20 is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device such that the longitudinal axis 28 of the first airflow channel 20 is arranged to be laterally offset from the center of the heating element 16. The center of the heating element 16 may be the point that is equidistant from the edge of the heating element 16 or the geometric center of the heating element 16. Due to the relative arrangement of the first airflow channel 20 and the heating element 16, the direction of the airflow changes by 90° when the air enters the first airflow channel 20, such that the flow path may be described to be L-shaped as the air enters the first airflow channel 20.

[0053] The airflow is then guided through the first airflow channel 20 into a second airflow channel 22. The cross-sectional area of the second airflow channel 22 increases towards the downstream direction. The second airflow channel 22 is a funnel-shaped or cone-shaped structure, which widens as the second airflow channel 22 extends towards the air outlet 24. The increase in cross-sectional area towards the downstream direction is such that the end face of the second airflow channel 22 adjacent to the air outlet 24 is centrally arranged on the longitudinal axis 26 of the aerosol-generating device. The widening of the second airflow channel 22 may give rise to a Venturi effect improving the properties of the aerosol. In this regard, the first airflow channel 20 may be a constricted section, while the second airflow channel 22 may enable expansion of the aerosol, thereby potentially cooling the aerosol and improving droplet formation. The airflow is guided through the second airflow channel 22 to the air outlet 24. A consumer may inhale aerosol delivered through the air outlet 24. A main body (not shown) comprising a power supply and a controller may be attached to mouthpiece 10.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the aerosol-generating device according to invention, particularly of the third airflow channel 14, the first airflow channel 20 and the second airflow channel 22. The structure and the function of the components are essentially the same as those described in FIG. 1.