AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE WITH TILTED PERFORATION IN VENTILATION ZONE

Abstract

An aerosol-generating article is provided, including: a rod of aerosol-generating substrate; and a ventilation zone including perforations and being arranged downstream of the rod, the perforations being arranged in a peripheral wall of the ventilation zone, each perforation having a central axis, the aerosol-generating article having a central axis, a smallest distance between the central axis of each perforation and the central axis of the aerosol-generating article being between 3% and 15% of an outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article, a thickness of the peripheral wall of the ventilation zone being between 0.1 millimeter and 2.5 millimeters, and the aerosol-generating article having a ventilation level of at least 20%. An aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating device having a cavity configured to receive the aerosol-generating article is also provided. A method for manufacturing an aerosol-generating article is also provided.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. An aerosol-generating article, comprising: a rod of aerosol-generating substrate; and a ventilation zone comprising perforations, the ventilation zone being arranged downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the perforations are arranged in a peripheral wall of the ventilation zone, wherein each perforation has a central axis, wherein the aerosol-generating article has a central axis, wherein a smallest distance between the central axis of each perforation and the central axis of the aerosol-generating article is between 3% and 15% of an outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article, wherein a thickness of the peripheral wall of the ventilation zone is between 0.1 millimeter and 2.5 millimeters, and wherein the aerosol-generating article has a ventilation level of at least 20%.

18. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein the smallest distance between the central axis of each perforation and the central axis of the aerosol-generating article is between 4% and 13% of the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article.

19. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein the smallest distance between the central axis of each perforation and the central axis of the aerosol-generating article is 6% of the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article.

20. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein each central axis of each perforation is angled with respect to a radial direction of the aerosol-generating article by an angle of between 3? and 20?.

21. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein each central axis of each perforation is angled with respect to a radial direction of the aerosol-generating article by an angle of 7?.

22. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein each perforation has a length measured along the central axis of the perforation, and wherein one or more perforations have a length of at least 0.1 millimeter and 2.7 millimeters.

23. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein each perforation has a length measured along the central axis of the perforation, and wherein one or more perforations have a length of around 1.7 millimeter.

24. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein a cross-sectional shape of one or more of the perforations is unchanged along the central axis of the perforations.

25. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein one or more of the perforations has a non-circular cross-section.

26. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein one or more of the perforations are slit-shaped or have an oval cross-section.

27. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein between 10 perforations and 12 perforations are provided.

28. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein the ventilation zone is arranged in a hollow tubular segment of an aerosol-cooling element, and wherein the hollow tubular segment has an inner volume of between 130 mm.sup.3 and 200 mm.sup.3.

29. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein the ventilation zone is arranged in a hollow tubular segment of an aerosol-cooling element, and wherein the hollow tubular segment has an inner volume of 170 mm.sup.3.

30. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein a distance between the perforations of the ventilation zone and a downstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate is between 1 millimeter and 6 millimeters.

31. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, wherein a distance between the perforations of the ventilation zone and a downstream end of the aerosol-generating article is between 10 millimeters and 26 millimeters.

32. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 31, wherein a ratio of ambient air drawn into the ventilation zone through the perforations and air drawn into the ventilation zone through the rod of aerosol-generating substrate is between 5 percent and 75 percent.

33. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, further comprising a filter plug downstream of the ventilation zone, wherein a resistance to draw of the filter plug is between 5 millimeters H.sub.2O and 80 millimeters H.sub.2O.

34. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 17, further comprising a substrate wrapper at least partly circumscribing the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the substrate wrapper has a thickness of 50 micrometers or more.

35. An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device having a cavity configured to receive the aerosol-generating article according to claim 17.

36. A method for manufacturing an aerosol-generating article, the method comprising the steps of: providing a rod of aerosol-generating substrate; providing a ventilation zone downstream of the rod of the aerosol-generating substrate; and creating perforations in a peripheral wall of the ventilation zone, wherein each perforation has a central axis, wherein the aerosol-generating article has a central axis, wherein a smallest distance between the central axis of each perforation and the central axis of the aerosol-generating article is between 3% and 15% of an outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article, and wherein the aerosol-generating article has a ventilation level of at least 20%.

Description

[0285] In the following, the invention will be further described with reference to

[0286] FIG. 1, which shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the invention; and

[0287] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view through a ventilation zone of the aerosol-generating article.

[0288] The aerosol-generating article 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate 12 and a downstream section 14 at a location downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate. Further, the aerosol-generating article 10 comprises an upstream section 16 at a location upstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate. Thus, the aerosol-generating article 10 extends from an upstream or distal end 18 to a downstream or mouth end 20.

[0289] The aerosol-generating article has an overall length of about 45 millimetres.

[0290] The downstream section 14 comprises a support element 22 located immediately downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate, the support element 22 being in longitudinal alignment with the rod 12. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the upstream end of the support element 18 abuts the downstream end of the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate. In addition, the downstream section 14 comprises an aerosol-cooling element 24 located immediately downstream of the support element 22, the aerosol-cooling element 24 being in longitudinal alignment with the rod 12 and the support element 22. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the upstream end of the aerosol-cooling element 24 abuts the downstream end of the support element 22.

[0291] As will become apparent from the following description, the support element 22 and the aerosol-cooling element 24 together define an intermediate hollow section 50 of the aerosol-generating article 10. As a whole, the intermediate hollow section 50 does not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article. An RTD of the intermediate hollow section 26 as a whole is substantially 0 millimetres H.sub.2O.

[0292] The support element 22 comprises a first hollow tubular segment 26. The first hollow tubular segment 26 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cellulose acetate. The first hollow tubular segment 26 defines an internal cavity 28 that extends all the way from an upstream end 30 of the first hollow tubular segment to a downstream end 32 of the first hollow tubular segment 20. The internal cavity 28 is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity 28. The first hollow tubular segment 26and, as a consequence, the support element 22does not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 10. In more detail, the RTD of the first hollow tubular segment 26 (which is essentially the RTD of the support element 22) is substantially 0 millimetres H.sub.2O.

[0293] The first hollow tubular segment 26 has a length of about 8 millimetres, an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres, and an internal diameter (D.sub.FTS) of about 1.9 millimetres. Thus, a thickness of a peripheral wall of the first hollow tubular segment 26 is about 2.67 millimetres.

[0294] The aerosol-cooling element 24 comprises a second hollow tubular segment 34. The second hollow tubular segment 34 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cellulose acetate. The second hollow tubular segment 34 defines an internal cavity 36 that extends all the way from an upstream end 38 of the second hollow tubular segment to a downstream end 40 of the second hollow tubular segment 34. The internal cavity 36 is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity 36. The second hollow tubular segment 28and, as a consequence, the aerosol-cooling element 24does not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 10. In more detail, the RTD of the second hollow tubular segment 34 (which is essentially the RTD of the aerosol-cooling element 24) is substantially 0 millimetres H.sub.2O.

[0295] The second hollow tubular segment 34 has a length of about 8 millimetres, an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres, and an internal diameter (D.sub.STS) of about 3.25 millimetres. Thus, a thickness of a peripheral wall of the second hollow tubular segment 34 is about 2 millimetres. Thus, a ratio between the internal diameter (D.sub.FTS) of the first hollow tubular segment 26 and the internal diameter (D.sub.STS) of the second hollow tubular segment 34 is about 0.75.

[0296] The aerosol-generating article 10 comprises a ventilation zone 60 provided at a location along the second hollow tubular segment 34. In more detail, the ventilation zone is provided at about 2 millimetres from the upstream end of the second hollow tubular segment 34. A ventilation level of the aerosol-generating article 10 is about 25 percent.

[0297] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the downstream section 14 further comprises a mouthpiece element 42 at a location downstream of the intermediate hollow section 50. In more detail, the mouthpiece element 42 is positioned immediately downstream of the aerosol-cooling element 24. As shown in the drawing of FIG. 1, an upstream end of the mouthpiece element 42 abuts the downstream end 40 of the aerosol-cooling element 18.

[0298] The mouthpiece element 42 is provided in the form of a cylindrical plug of low-density cellulose acetate.

[0299] The mouthpiece element 42 has a length of about 12 millimetres and an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres. The RTD of the mouthpiece element 42 is about 12 millimetres H.sub.2O.

[0300] The rod 12 comprises an aerosol-forming substrate of one of the types described above.

[0301] The rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate has an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres and a length of about 12 millimetres.

[0302] The aerosol-generating article 10 further comprises an elongate susceptor 44 within the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate. In more detail, the susceptor 44 is arranged substantially longitudinally within the aerosol-forming substrate, such as to be approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod 12. As shown in the drawing of FIG. 1, the susceptor 44 is positioned in a radially central position within the rod and extends effectively along the longitudinal axis of the rod 12.

[0303] The susceptor 44 extends all the way from an upstream end to a downstream end of the rod 12. In effect, the susceptor 44 has substantially the same length as the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate.

[0304] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the susceptor 44 is provided in the form of a strip and has a length of about 12 millimetres, a thickness of about 60 micrometres, and a width of about 4 millimetres. The upstream section 16 comprises an upstream element 46 located immediately upstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate, the upstream element 46 being in longitudinal alignment with the rod 12. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the downstream end of the upstream element 46 abuts the upstream end of the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate. This advantageously prevents the susceptor 44 from being dislodged. Further, this ensures that the consumer cannot accidentally contact the heated susceptor 44 after use.

[0305] The upstream element 46 is provided in the form of a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate circumscribed by a stiff wrapper. The upstream element 46 has a length of about 5 millimetres. The RTD of the upstream element 46 is about 30 millimetres H.sub.2O.

[0306] FIG. 2 shows the ventilation zone 60 of the aerosol-generating article, more particularly a cross-sectional view of the ventilation zone 60. Multiple perforations 62 are provided in the ventilation zone 60. The perforation 62 are provided in the hollow tubular segment 34. 11 perforations 62 are provided. The perforations 62 penetrate the hollow tubular segment 34 such that ambient air can flow into the hollow tubular segment 34 through the perforations 62. Ambient air can flow through the perforations 62 into the internal cavity 36 of the hollow tubular segment 34.

[0307] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the perforations are tilted. Exemplarily, a central axis CAPER of a perforation is shown in FIG. 2. The central axis CAPER of the perforation runs through a peripheral cross-sectional center of the perforation and an inner cross-sectional center of the perforation. The peripheral cross-sectional center of the perforation may be the cross-sectional center of the perforation at the outermost opening area 64 of the perforation shown in FIG. 2. The inner cross-sectional center of the perforation may be the cross-sectional center of the perforation at the innermost opening area 66 of the perforation shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 further shows a central axis CAART of the aerosol-generating article. The central axis CAART of the aerosol-generating article is a central longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the central axis CAPER of a perforation is arranged distanced, by the distance d, from the central axis CAART of the aerosol-generating article. The same is true for all of the perforations 62. All perforations 62 are tilted so that the central axis of the perforations 62 are distanced from the central axis CAART of the aerosol-generating article.

[0308] Features described in relation to one embodiment may equally be applied to other embodiments of the invention.