AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE WITH DOWNSTREAM SECTION

Abstract

An aerosol-generating article is provided, including: a rod of aerosol-generating substrate; and a downstream section provided downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and extending to a downstream end of the aerosol-generating article, the downstream section including a hollow tubular cooling element, the downstream section having a length of at least 45 millimetres, and a ratio of a length of the downstream section to a length of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate being at least 1.5, and a maximum external diameter of the aerosol-generating article being less than 7 millimetres.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. An aerosol-generating article, comprising: a rod of aerosol-generating substrate; and a downstream section provided downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and extending to a downstream end of the aerosol-generating article, wherein the downstream section comprises a hollow tubular cooling element, wherein the downstream section has a length of at least 45 millimetres, and wherein a ratio of a length of the downstream section to a length of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate is at least 1.5, wherein a maximum external diameter of the aerosol-generating article is less than 7 millimetres.

16. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 15, wherein the ratio of the length of the downstream section to a total length of the aerosol-generating article is at least 0.6.

17. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 15, wherein the hollow tubular cooling element of the downstream section has a length of at least 40 millimetres.

18. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 15, wherein the hollow tubular cooling element abuts the downstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate.

19. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 15, wherein the hollow tubular cooling element of the downstream section has a wall thickness of less than 0.5 millimetres.

20. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 15, wherein the rod of aerosol-generating substrate has a length of less than 30 millimetres.

21. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 15, wherein the aerosol-generating article has a total length of at least 60 millimetres.

22. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 15, wherein the ratio of the length of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate to a total length of the aerosol-generating article is less than 0.4.

23. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 15, further comprising a ventilation zone disposed at a location along the hollow tubular cooling element of the downstream section.

24. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 15, wherein the rod of aerosol-generating substrate comprises a shredded tobacco material.

25. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 24, wherein the shredded tobacco material has a density of less than 280 mg per cubic centimetre.

26. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 15, further comprising an upstream element provided upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and abutting an upstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate.

27. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 15, wherein the downstream section further comprises a downstream filter segment provided downstream of the hollow tubular cooling element.

28. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 27, wherein the downstream section further comprises a downstream hollow tubular element downstream of the downstream filter segment, and wherein the downstream hollow tubular element is at the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article.

Description

[0404] In the following, the invention will be further described with reference to the drawings of the accompanying Figures, wherein:

[0405] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0406] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0407] FIGS. 3a & 3b shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0408] FIGS. 4a & 4b shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0409] FIG. 5 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0410] FIG. 6 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0411] FIG. 7 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0412] FIG. 8 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0413] FIG. 9 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0414] FIG. 10 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0415] FIG. 11 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0416] FIG. 12 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0417] FIG. 13 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0418] FIG. 14 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0419] FIG. 15 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0420] FIG. 16 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0421] Aerosol-generating articles shown in all Figures of the present disclosure comprise a rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate and a downstream section 14 located downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. Aerosol-generating articles extend from an upstream or distal end 18 to a downstream or mouth end 19. The downstream or mouth end 19 is defined by the downstream end of the downstream section 14.

[0422] Each of the components of the aerosol-generating articles shown in the Figures and described in the present disclosure may be circumscribed by corresponding wrappers or may be joined together by one or more wrappers, which are not shown in the Figures. A maximum external diameter of each of the aerosol-generating articles shown in the Figures is about 6.5 mm, unless specified otherwise.

[0423] The rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is circumscribed by a wrapper (not shown), and comprises at least one of the types of aerosol-generating substrate described in the present disclosure, such as plant cut filler, particularly tobacco cut filler, homogenised tobacco, a gel formulation, or a homogenised plant material comprising particles of a plant other than tobacco. The rod 12 of the aerosol-generating articles shown in all Figures have an average tobacco density of about 250 mg per cubic centimetre.

[0424] The downstream section 14 of the aerosol-generating article 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a hollow tubular cooling element 22, a downstream filter segment 24, and a downstream, or mouth end, hollow tubular element 26. The hollow tubular cooling element 22 is located immediately downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. In other words, the hollow tubular cooling element 22 abuts the downstream end of the rod 12. The downstream filter segment 24 abuts the downstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 and the downstream hollow tubular element 26 abuts the downstream end of the downstream filter segment 24. The downstream filter segment 24 is therefore located between the hollow tubular cooling element 22 and the downstream hollow tubular element 26. The downstream end 19 of the article 10 is defined by the downstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 26.

[0425] The length of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is about 40 mm.

[0426] The hollow tubular cooling element 22 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cardboard or cellulose acetate. The hollow tubular cooling segment 22 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 to an downstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The hollow tubular cooling element 22 may not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 10. The length of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 25 mm. The wall thickness of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 250 micrometres (m).

[0427] The downstream filter segment 24 comprises a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow. The length of the downstream filter segment 24 is about 10 mm.

[0428] The downstream hollow tubular element 26 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cellulose acetate. The downstream hollow tubular element 26 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 26 to an downstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 26. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The downstream hollow tubular element 26 does not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 10. The length of the downstream hollow tubular element 26 is about 6 mm. The wall thickness of the downstream hollow tubular element 26 is about 1 mm.

[0429] The aerosol-generating article 10 comprises a ventilation zone 36 provided at a location along the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The ventilation zone 36 comprises at least one circumferential row of perforations extending through the peripheral wall of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 and any wrapper (not shown) circumscribing the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The ventilation zone 36 is provided at about 2 millimetres from the downstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22.

[0430] The aerosol-generating article 101 shown in FIG. 2 is similar to the aerosol-generating article 10 shown in FIG. 1 and differs only in the following aspects. The rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is shorter and the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is longer. The length of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is about 25 mm. The length of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 40 mm.

[0431] The aerosol-generating article 102 shown in FIG. 3a is similar to the aerosol-generating article 101 shown in FIG. 2 and differs only in the following aspects. The hollow tubular cooling element 22 is shorter and the downstream hollow tubular element 27 is longer. The length of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 25 mm. The length of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 is about 20 mm. Further, the ventilation zone 36 is provided along the downstream hollow tubular element 27. The ventilation zone 36 is provided at about 2 millimetres from the upstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 26. The ventilation zone 36 comprises at least one circumferential row of perforations extending through the peripheral wall of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 and any wrapper (not shown) circumscribing the downstream hollow tubular element 27.

[0432] The aerosol-generating article 103 shown in FIG. 3b is similar to the aerosol-generating article 102 shown in FIG. 3a and differs only in the following aspects. The downstream hollow tubular element 27 comprises two abutting hollow tubular segments 271, 272. The first hollow tubular segment 271 is located between the downstream filter segment 24 and the second first hollow tubular segment 272.

[0433] In FIG. 3b, the first hollow tubular segment 271 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cardboard. The first hollow tubular segment 271 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the first hollow tubular segment 271 to an downstream end of the first hollow tubular segment 271. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The first hollow tubular segment 271 may not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 103. The length of the first hollow tubular segment 271 is about 10 mm. The wall thickness of the first hollow tubular segment 271 is about 250 micrometres (m). The ventilation zone 36 is provided at about 2 millimetres from the upstream end of the first hollow tubular segment 271 of the downstream hollow tubular element 27.

[0434] In FIG. 3b, the second hollow tubular segment 272 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cellulose acetate. The second hollow tubular segment 272 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the second hollow tubular segment 272 to an downstream end of the second hollow tubular segment 272. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The second hollow tubular segment 272 does not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 103. The length of the second hollow tubular segment 272 is about 10 mm. The wall thickness of the second hollow tubular segment 272 is about 1 mm.

[0435] The aerosol-generating articles 104, 105 shown in FIGS. 4a & 4b are similar to the aerosol-generating article 101 shown in FIG. 2 and differ only in that the aerosol-generating articles 104, 105 further comprise an upstream section 16 located upstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. The distal end 18 of the articles 104, 105 is defined by the upstream end of the upstream section 16. The upstream section 16 comprises an upstream element 341, 342 abutting the upstream end of the rod 12. The length of the upstream element 341, 342 is about 5 mm. In the article 104 shown in FIG. 4a, the upstream element 341 is provided in the form of a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow. In the article 105 shown in FIG. 4b, the upstream element 342 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cellulose acetate having a wall thickness of about 1 mm.

[0436] The downstream section 14 of the aerosol-generating article 20 shown in FIG. 5 comprises a hollow tubular support element 28, a cooling element 32, and a downstream filter segment 24. The hollow tubular support element 28 is located immediately downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. In other words, the hollow tubular support element 28 abuts the downstream end of the rod 12. The cooling element 32 abuts the downstream end of the hollow tubular support element 28 and the downstream filter segment 24 abuts the downstream end of the cooling element 32. The cooling element 32 is therefore located between the hollow tubular support element 28 and the downstream filter segment 24. The downstream end 19 of the article 20 is defined by the downstream end of the downstream filter segment 24.

[0437] The length of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is about 25 mm.

[0438] The hollow tubular support element 28 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cellulose acetate. The hollow tubular support element 28 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the hollow tubular support element 28 to an downstream end of the hollow tubular support element 28. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The hollow tubular support element 28 may not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 20. The length of hollow tubular support element 28 is about 8 mm. The wall thickness of the hollow tubular support element 28 is about 1.5 mm.

[0439] The cooling element 32 is formed by thin polylactic acid (PLA) sheet material that has been crimped, pleated, gathered, or folded to form the channels. The length of the cooling element 32 is about 18 mm.

[0440] The downstream filter segment 24 comprises a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow. The length of the downstream filter segment 24 is about 7 mm.

[0441] A maximum external diameter of the aerosol-generating article 20 is about 7.3 mm.

[0442] The aerosol-generating article 201 shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the aerosol-generating article 20 shown in FIG. 5 and differs in that it further comprises a hollow tubular cooling element 22 and in that the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is shorter. The length of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is about 12 mm. The hollow tubular cooling element 22 is located immediately downstream of the cooling element 32 and immediately upstream of the downstream filter segment 24. In other words, the hollow tubular cooling element 22 abuts the cooling element 32 and the downstream filter segment 24.

[0443] The hollow tubular cooling element 22 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cardboard. The hollow tubular cooling segment 22 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 to an downstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The hollow tubular cooling element 22 may not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 201. The length of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 25 mm. The wall thickness of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 250 micrometres (m).

[0444] The aerosol-generating article 202 shown in FIG. 7 is similar to the aerosol-generating article 201 shown in FIG. 6 and differs only in that it further comprises a downstream hollow tubular element 27. The downstream hollow tubular element 27 abuts the downstream end of the downstream filter segment 24. The downstream filter segment 24 is therefore located between the hollow tubular cooling element 22 and the downstream hollow tubular element 27. The downstream end 19 of the article 202 is defined by the downstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 27.

[0445] The downstream hollow tubular element 27 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cellulose acetate. The downstream hollow tubular element 27 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 to an downstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 27. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The downstream hollow tubular element 27 may not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 202. The length of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 is about 5 mm. The wall thickness of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 is about 1 mm.

[0446] The aerosol-generating article 30 shown in FIG. 8 comprises a rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate and a downstream section 14 located downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. Further, the aerosol-generating article 30 comprises an upstream section 16 located upstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. The distal end 18 of the article 30 is defined by the upstream end of the upstream section 16.

[0447] The downstream section 14 of the aerosol-generating article 30 shown in FIG. 8 comprises a hollow tubular cooling element 22 and a downstream filter segment 24. The hollow tubular cooling element 22 is located immediately downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. In other words, the hollow tubular cooling element 22 abuts the downstream end of the rod 12. The downstream filter segment 24 abuts the downstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The hollow tubular cooling element 22 is therefore located between the rod 12 and the downstream filter segment 24. The downstream end 19 of the article 30 is defined by the downstream end of the downstream filter segment 24.

[0448] The length of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is about 25 mm.

[0449] The hollow tubular cooling element 22 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cardboard or cellulose acetate. The hollow tubular cooling segment 22 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 to an downstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The hollow tubular cooling element 22 may not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 30. The length of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 21 mm. The wall thickness of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 250 micrometres (m).

[0450] The downstream filter segment 24 comprises a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow. The length of the downstream filter segment 24 is about 7 mm.

[0451] The upstream section 16 comprises an upstream element 341 abutting the upstream end of the rod 12. The upstream element 341 is provided in the form of a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow. The length of the upstream element 341 is about 5 mm.

[0452] The aerosol-generating article 30 comprises a ventilation zone 36 provided at a location along the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The ventilation zone 36 comprises at least one circumferential row of perforations extending through the peripheral wall of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 and any wrapper (not shown) circumscribing the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The ventilation zone 36 is provided at about 2 millimetres from the downstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22.

[0453] The aerosol-generating article 301 shown in FIG. 9 is similar to the aerosol-generating article 30 shown in FIG. 8 and differs only in that the rod 12 is shorter and the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is longer. In FIG. 9, the length of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is about 12 mm and the length of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 45 mm.

[0454] The aerosol-generating article 302 shown in FIG. 10 is similar to the aerosol-generating article 301 shown in FIG. 8 and differs in that the rod 12 is shorter and the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is longer, and that the article 302 further comprises a downstream hollow tubular element 27. In FIG. 10, the length of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is about 12 mm and the length of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 40 mm. The downstream filter segment 24 is therefore located between the hollow tubular cooling element 22 and the downstream hollow tubular element 27. The downstream end 19 of the article 302 is defined by the downstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 27.

[0455] The downstream hollow tubular element 27 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cellulose acetate. The downstream hollow tubular element 27 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 to an downstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 27. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The downstream hollow tubular element 27 may not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 302. The length of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 is about 5 mm. The wall thickness of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 is about 1 mm.

[0456] The aerosol-generating article 304 shown in FIG. 11 is similar to the aerosol-generating article 302 shown in FIG. 10 and differs in that the ventilation zone 36 is instead provided along the downstream hollow tubular element 27. The ventilation zone 36 is provided at about 2 millimetres from the upstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 27. The ventilation zone 36 comprises at least one circumferential row of perforations extending through the peripheral wall of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 and any wrapper (not shown) circumscribing the downstream hollow tubular element 27.

[0457] The aerosol-generating article 40 shown in FIG. 12 comprises a rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate and a downstream section 14 located downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. Further, the aerosol-generating article 40 comprises an upstream section 16 located upstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. The distal end 18 of the article is defined by the upstream end of the upstream section 16.

[0458] The downstream section 14 of the aerosol-generating article 40 shown in FIG. 3 comprises a hollow tubular support element 28, a hollow tubular cooling element 22, and a downstream filter segment 24. The hollow tubular support element 28 is located immediately downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. In other words, the hollow tubular support element 28 abuts the downstream end of the rod 12. The hollow tubular cooling element 22 abuts the downstream end of the hollow tubular support element 28 and the downstream filter segment 24 abuts the downstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The hollow tubular cooling element 22 is therefore located between the hollow tubular support element 28 and the downstream filter segment 24. The downstream end 19 of the article 40 is defined by the downstream end of the downstream filter segment 24.

[0459] The length of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is about 20 mm.

[0460] The hollow tubular support element 28 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cellulose acetate. The hollow tubular support element 28 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the hollow tubular support element 28 to an downstream end of the hollow tubular support element 28. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The hollow tubular support element 28 may not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 40. The length of the hollow tubular support element 28 is about 8 mm. The wall thickness of the hollow tubular support element 28 is about 1.5 mm.

[0461] The hollow tubular cooling element 22 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cardboard or cellulose acetate. The hollow tubular cooling segment 22 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 to an downstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The hollow tubular cooling element 22 may not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 40. The length of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 8 mm. The wall thickness of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 250 micrometres (m).

[0462] The downstream filter segment 24 comprises a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow. The length of the downstream filter segment 24 is about 12 mm.

[0463] The upstream section 16 comprises an upstream element 341 abutting the upstream end of the rod 12. The upstream element 341 is provided in the form of a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow. The length of the upstream element 341 is about 5 mm.

[0464] The aerosol-generating article 40 comprises a ventilation zone 36 provided at a location along the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The ventilation zone 36 comprises at least one circumferential row of perforations extending through the peripheral wall of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 and any wrapper (not shown) circumscribing the hollow tubular cooling element 22. The ventilation zone 36 is provided at about 2 millimetres from the downstream end of the hollow tubular cooling element 22.

[0465] The aerosol-generating article 40 comprises an elongate susceptor element 44 located within the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. The susceptor element 44 is arranged substantially longitudinally within the rod 12, such as to be approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod 12. As the elongate susceptor element 44 is located in thermal contact with the aerosol-generating substrate, the aerosol-generating substrate is heated by the susceptor element 44, when the susceptor element 44 is inductively heated when located within a fluctuating electromagnetic field.

[0466] As shown in FIG. 12, the susceptor element 44 is positioned in a radially central position within the rod and extends effectively along the longitudinal axis of the rod 12. The susceptor element 44 extends all the way from an upstream end to a downstream end of the rod 12. In effect, the susceptor element 44 has substantially the same length as the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate.

[0467] The susceptor element 44 is provided in any form described in the present disclosure and has a length substantially equal to the length of the rod 12. The upstream section 16 advantageously prevents the susceptor element 44 from being dislodged. Further, this ensures that the consumer cannot accidentally contact the heated susceptor element 44 after use.

[0468] The aerosol-generating article 401 shown in FIG. 13 is similar to the aerosol-generating article 40 shown in FIG. 12 and differs only in that the rod 12 is shorter and the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is longer. In FIG. 13, the length of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is about 12 mm and the length of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 25 mm.

[0469] The aerosol-generating article 402 shown in FIG. 14 is similar to the aerosol-generating article 40 shown in FIG. 12 and differs in that the rod 12 is shorter and the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is longer, and in that the article 402 further comprises a downstream hollow tubular element 27. In the article 402 shown in FIG. 14, the length of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate is about 12 mm and the length of the hollow tubular cooling element 22 is about 20 mm. The downstream filter segment 24 is therefore located between the hollow tubular cooling element 22 and the downstream hollow tubular element 27. The downstream end 19 of the article 402 is defined by the downstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 27.

[0470] The downstream hollow tubular element 27 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cellulose acetate. The downstream hollow tubular element 27 defines an internal cavity that extends all the way from an upstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 to an downstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 27. The internal cavity is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity. The downstream hollow tubular element 27 may not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 402. The length of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 is about 5 mm. The wall thickness of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 is about 1 mm.

[0471] The aerosol-generating article 403 shown in FIG. 15 is similar to the aerosol-generating article 402 shown in FIG. 14 and differs in that the ventilation zone 36 is provided along the downstream hollow tubular element 27. The ventilation zone 36 is provided at about 2 millimetres from the upstream end of the downstream hollow tubular element 27. The ventilation zone 36 comprises at least one circumferential row of perforations extending through the peripheral wall of the downstream hollow tubular element 27 and any wrapper (not shown) circumscribing the downstream hollow tubular element 27.

[0472] FIG. 16 illustrates an aerosol-generating system 1 comprising an exemplary aerosol-generating device 50 and an aerosol-generating article according to any one shown in FIGS. 1 to 15 and described above.

[0473] FIG. 16 illustrates a downstream, mouth end portion of the aerosol-generating device 50 where the device cavity is defined and the aerosol-generating article can be received. The aerosol-generating device 50 comprises a housing (or body) 4, extending between a mouth end 2 and a distal end (not shown). The housing 4 comprises a peripheral wall 6. The peripheral wall 6 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 and is configured to abut a closed end of the device cavity.

[0474] A device air flow channel 5 is defined within the peripheral wall 6. The air-flow channel 5 extends between an inlet 7 located at the mouth end of the aerosol-generating device 1 and the closed end of the device cavity. Air may enter the aerosol-generating substrate 12 via an aperture (not shown) provided at the closed end of the device cavity, ensuring fluid communication between the air flow channel 5 and the aerosol-generating substrate 12.

[0475] The aerosol-generating device 1 further comprises a heater (not shown) and a power source (not shown) for supplying power to the heater. A controller (not shown) is also provided to control such supply of power to the heater. The heater is configured to controllably heat the aerosol-generating article during use, when the aerosol-generating article is received within the device 1. The heater is preferably arranged to externally heat the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-generating article for optimal aerosol generation. The ventilation zone of an aerosol-generating article is arranged to be exposed when the aerosol-generating article is received within the aerosol-generating device 1.

[0476] 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.