AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE HAVING A GROOVED AIR CHANNELLING ELEMENT

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol upon heating. The aerosol-generating article comprises a rod of aerosol-generating substrate. The aerosol-generating article comprises an air channelling element abutting the rod of aerosol-generating substrate. The air channelling element comprises a groove defined on an external surface. The groove defines an external air passageway extending from an upstream end of the air channelling element to a downstream end of the air channelling element. There is also provided an aerosol-generating system comprising the aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device comprising an external heater, configured to receive and externally heat the aerosol-generating article.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol upon heating and an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber, the aerosol-generating article being configured to be received within the heating chamber and comprising: a rod of aerosol-generating substrate; and an air channelling element abutting the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the air channelling element comprises a groove defined on an external surface, the groove defining an external air passageway extending from an upstream end of the air channelling element to a downstream end of the air channelling element; wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a heater configured to externally heat the rod of aerosol-generating substrate.

18. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a downstream section located downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the downstream section comprising the air channelling element abutting a downstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate.

19. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a ventilation zone at a location along the air channelling element.

20. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises an upstream section located upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the upstream section comprising the air channelling element abutting an upstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate.

21. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises an upstream section located upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and a downstream section located downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the upstream section comprising the air channelling element abutting an upstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and the downstream section comprising a downstream air channelling element abutting a downstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate.

22. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a mouthpiece element provided downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the air channelling element is located upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate or between the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and the mouthpiece element.

23. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a hollow tubular element provided downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the air channelling element is located upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate or between the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and the hollow tubular element.

24. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein a body of the air channelling element comprises a core portion and a peripheral portion where the groove is defined, wherein the core portion is substantially solid.

25. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the air channelling element does not define an internal cavity.

26. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the air channelling element is formed by thermoforming.

27. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein a depth of the groove is at least 0.5 mm.

28. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein a depth of the groove is no greater than 2 mm.

29. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the air channelling element comprises at least four grooves.

30. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the groove traces a helical path or a waveform path on the air channelling element.

31. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a wrapper circumscribing the air channelling element, wherein the wrapper overlies the external air passageway defined by the groove such that the wrapper defines a boundary of the external air passageway.

Description

[0334] In the following, the invention will be further described with reference to the drawings of the accompanying Figures, wherein:

[0335] FIG. 1a shows a schematic side perspective, exploded view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0336] FIG. 1b shows a schematic side perspective view of an assembled aerosol-generating article as shown in FIG. 1a;

[0337] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side perspective view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0338] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side perspective view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0339] FIG. 4 shows a schematic side perspective view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0340] FIG. 5a shows a cross-sectional view of an air channelling element of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0341] FIG. 5b shows a cross-sectional view of an air channelling element of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0342] FIG. 6a shows a cross-sectional view of an air channelling element of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0343] FIG. 6b shows a cross-sectional view of an air channelling element of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0344] FIG. 7a shows a side sectional view of an aerosol-generating system in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0345] FIG. 7b shows a partial cross-sectional view of an air channelling element of an aerosol-generating article along line A-A shown in FIG. 7a; and

[0346] FIG. 7c shows a cross-sectional view of an air channelling element of an aerosol-generating article along line A-A shown in FIG. 7a.

[0347] FIG. 1a illustrates an aerosol-generating article 10 comprising a rod of aerosol-generating substrate 12 and a downstream section at a location downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. The aerosol-generating article 10 extends from an upstream or distal end 16 to a downstream or mouth end 18, which coincides with a downstream end of the downstream section. As shown in FIG. 1a, the downstream section comprises a downstream air channelling element 11 and a mouthpiece element 8. The aerosol-generating article described herein are assembled together using one or more wrappers, which are not shown.

[0348] The aerosol-generating article 10 has an outer diameter of about 7.2 mm. A length of the aerosol-generating substrate 12 is about 8 mm.

[0349] The rod of aerosol-generating substrate 12 comprises a shredded tobacco material. The rod of aerosol-generating substrate 12 comprises 150 milligrams of a shredded tobacco material comprising from 13 percent by weight to 16 percent by weight of glycerine. The density of the aerosol-generating substrate is about 300 mg per cubic centimetre. The RTD of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate 12 is between about 6 to 8 mm H.sub.2O. The rod of aerosol-generating substrate 12 is individually wrapped by a plug wrap (not shown).

[0350] The downstream air channelling element 11 is located immediately downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate 12, the downstream air channelling element 11 being in longitudinal alignment with the rod 12. The upstream end of the downstream air channelling element 11 abuts the downstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate 12.

[0351] Outer air passageways for air and aerosol to travel through are present in the form of grooves 5 provided around an external surface of the air channelling element 11. The air channelling element 11 comprises six grooves 5 extending longitudinally along the body of the air channelling element 11.

[0352] A length of the downstream air channelling element 11 is about 12 mm.

[0353] The mouthpiece element 8 extends from the downstream end of the air channelling element 11 to the downstream or mouth end of the aerosol-generating article 10. The mouthpiece element 8 has a length of about 7 mm. An external diameter of the mouthpiece element 8 is about 7.2 mm. The mouthpiece element 8 comprises a low-density, cellulose acetate filter segment. The RTD of the mouthpiece element 8 is about 8 mm H.sub.2O. The mouthpiece element 8 may be individually wrapped by a plug wrap (not shown).

[0354] FIG. 1b illustrates the aerosol-generating article 10 being assembled in a wrapper 52 circumscribing the components of the article 10. The outer air passageways are defined between the grooves 5 and an internal surface of the wrapper 52.

[0355] FIG. 2 shows an aerosol-generating article 10a similar to aerosol-generating article 10, but having a ventilation zone 13 provided at a location along the air channelling element 11. In more detail, the ventilation zone 13 is provided at about 16 millimetres from the downstream end 18 of the article 10. The ventilation zone 13 comprises a circumferential row of openings or perforations circumscribing the air channelling element 11. The perforations of the ventilation zone 13 allow fluid ingress into the grooves 5 from the exterior of the article 10. Any other embodiments described herein may also have a ventilation zone that provides fluid communication between the exterior of the article 10 and any outer air passageways (including grooves) defined in the air channelling element.

[0356] FIG. 3 illustrates an aerosol-generating article 20 similar to the aerosol-generating article 10, but comprising a hollow tubular element 14, instead of the downstream air channelling element 11, and an upstream section upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate 12 comprising an upstream air channelling element 15. Similar, to the downstream air channelling element 11, the upstream air channelling element 15 (or upstream or front plug) comprises outer air passageways for air to travel through in the form of grooves 5 provided around an external surface of the air channelling element 15. The air channelling element 15 also comprises six grooves 5 extending longitudinally along the body of the air channelling element 15. The hollow tubular element 14 is provided between the rod of aerosol-generating substrate 12 and the mouthpiece element 8. The upstream air channelling element 15 has a length of about 5 mm. The hollow tubular element 14 may have a length of about 10 mm.

[0357] FIG. 4 illustrates an aerosol-generating article 30 similar to the aerosol-generating article 10, but further comprising an upstream section upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate 12 comprising an upstream air channelling element 15, as described above.

[0358] FIGS. 5a & 5b show cross-sections of embodiments of an air channelling element 11, 15. As shown in FIG. 5b, the air channelling elements 11, 15 can further comprise an inner, central air passageway 7 extending through a core portion of the body of the air channelling element 11, 15, in addition to the six grooves 5. The grooves 5 have a depth of about 1.5 mm. The body of the air-channelling element 11, 15 has an external diameter of about 7.2 mm. The inner air passageway 7 shown in FIG. 5b has a circular cross-section and has a diameter of about 1 mm.

[0359] FIGS. 6a & 6b show cross-sections of embodiments of an air channelling element 11, 15 having four grooves 5. The air channelling elements 11, 15 can further comprise an inner air passageway 7 extending through a core portion C of the body of the air channelling element 11, 15, in addition to the four grooves 5 defined on a peripheral portion P of the body of the air channelling element 11, 15. The grooves 5 have a depth H of about 1.5 mm. The body of the air-channelling element 11, 15 has an external diameter D of about 7.2 mm. The inner air passageway 7 shown in FIG. 6b has a circular cross-section and has a diameter of about 1 mm.

[0360] FIG. 7a portrays an aerosol-generating system 1 comprising an exemplary aerosol-generating device 100 (only a portion thereof is shown for ease of reference) and an aerosol-generating article 10 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a & 1b. Any embodiment of the aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure may be used.

[0361] FIG. 7a illustrates a downstream, mouth end portion of the aerosol-generating device 100 where the device cavity or heating chamber is defined and the aerosol-generating article 10 can be received. The aerosol-generating device 1 comprises a housing 24, extending between a mouth end and a distal end (not shown). The housing 24 comprises a peripheral wall 26. The peripheral wall 26 defines a device cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article 10. The device cavity is defined by a closed, distal end and an open, mouth end. The mouth end of the device cavity is located at the mouth end of the aerosol-generating device 1. The aerosol-generating article 10 is configured to be received through the mouth end of the device cavity (or heating chamber) and is configured to abut a distal, closed end of the device cavity.

[0362] A device air-flow intake 22 is defined at a distal end of the device cavity. Air may enter the aerosol-generating substrate 12 via the air-flow intake 22, ensuring fluid communication between the exterior of the device 1 and the rod of the aerosol-generating substrate 12.

[0363] The aerosol-generating device 1 further comprises an external heater 28 and a power source (not shown) for supplying power to the heater 28. A controller (not shown) is also provided to control such supply of power to the heater 28. The heater 28 is configured to controllably heat the aerosol-generating article 10 during use, when the aerosol-generating article 10 is received within the device 1. The heater 28 is in the form of a heater tube and is arranged to externally heat the aerosol-generating substrate 12.

[0364] FIGS. 7b & 7c display how aerosol is drawn from a peripheral portion PS of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate 12 during the initial heating stages. As shown in FIG. 7b, upon heating of the aerosol-generating substrate 12, aerosol is primarily drawn from the peripheral portion PS of the substrate 12. The long dash-dot-dot line B denotes an imaginary border between a peripheral portion PS of the substrate 12 and a core portion CS of the substrate 12, which may take longer to heat up and to generate aerosol after the start of a heating cycle. The downstream air channelling element 11 advantageously encourages aerosol from the peripheral portion PS of the substrate 12 to be drawn through the outer air passageways defined by the grooves 5, thereby speeding up the generation and provision of consumable aerosol to a user further downstream. With downstream air channelling elements having a central inner air passageway 7, as shown in FIG. 7c, aerosol originating mostly from the core portion CS of the substrate 12 may also be drawn through the inner air passageway 7.

[0365] For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term about. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A10% of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.