Aerosol-generating system with enhanced airflow management

Abstract

An aerosol-generating system includes a liquid storage portion including housing holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a capillary medium. The housing has an opening. A fluid permeable heater assembly includes an arrangement of electrically conductive filaments arranged to define an air impingement surface. The fluid permeable heater assembly extends across the opening of the housing. The filament arrangement defines a filament opening allowing airflow to pass through. The capillary medium is provided in contact with the heater assembly. The capillary medium is configured to draw the liquid aerosol forming substrate to the electrically conductive filament arrangement. The capillary medium includes a capillary medium opening extending the filament opening through the capillary medium.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating system comprising: a liquid storage portion comprising a housing holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a capillary medium, the housing having a housing opening; and a fluid permeable heater assembly comprising an arrangement of electrically conductive filaments arranged to define an air impingement surface, the air impingement surface being in the shape of a cone or a concave surface, the air impingement surface facing an inlet and an outlet of the aersol-generating system when the aerosol-generating system is in operational use, the electrically conductive filaments defining a filament opening at an epicenter of the air impingement surface, the filament opening being configured to allow airflow to pass through the electrically conductive filaments, the electrically conductive filaments forming a mesh, wherein the capillary medium is provided in contact with the fluid permeable heater assembly, the capillary medium is configured to draw the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the arrangement of electrically conductive filaments.

2. The aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein the capillary medium includes a capillary medium opening through the capillary medium, the capillary medium opening in fluid communication with the filament opening.

3. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 2, wherein the capillary medium is cylindrical shape, and wherein the capillary medium opening is a central opening.

4. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 2, wherein the aerosol-generating system is configured such that when vapor is generated at the fluid permeable heater assembly, the vapor is transported by an airflow through the capillary medium opening.

5. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 2, wherein the fluid permeable heater assembly comprises a first electrically conductive contact portion and a second electrically conductive contact portion, the first electrically conductive contact portion located at an interior boundary line of the arrangement of electrically conductive filaments to the filament opening, and the second electrically conductive contact portion located at an exterior boundary line of the arrangement of electrically conductive filaments, and wherein the first electrically conductive contact portion extends through the capillary medium opening.

6. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein position and shape of the arrangement of electrically conductive filaments are dimensioned and arranged such that when an airflow is guided to the air impingement surface of the arrangement of electrically conductive filaments, the airflow is whirled around the air impingement surface.

7. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating system comprises a main unit and a cartridge that is removably coupled to the main unit, wherein the liquid storage portion and heater assembly are provided in the cartridge and the main unit comprises a power supply.

8. A fluid permeable heater assembly comprising: a capillary medium configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; and an arrangement of electrically conductive filaments arranged to define an air impingement surface, the air impingement surface being in contact with the capillary medium, the air impingement surface being in the shape of a cone or a concave surface, the electrically conductive filaments defining a filament opening at an epicenter of the air impingement surface, the epicenter of the air impingement surface extending into the capillary medium, the filament opening being configured to allow airflow to pass through the electrically conductive filaments, the electrically conductive filaments forming a mesh, the filament opening having an area at least five times larger than an area of an interstice between filaments of the arrangement of electrically conductive filaments forming the mesh.

9. The fluid permeable heater assembly according to claim 8, wherein a shape of the arrangement of electrically conductive filaments is dimensioned and arranged such that when an airflow is guided to the air impingement surface of the arrangement of electrically conductive filaments, the airflow is whirled around the air impingement surface.

10. The fluid permeable heater assembly according to claim 8, wherein the fluid permeable heater assembly comprises a first electrically conductive contact portion located at an interior boundary line of the arrangement of electrically conductive filaments to the filament opening and a second electrically conductive contact portion located at an exterior boundary line of the arrangement of electrically conductive filaments.

11. The aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein the mesh has between 160 and 600 filaments per inch.

12. The aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein the epicenter of the air impingement surface extends into the capillary medium.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective topside view of an arrangement comprising a heater assembly and a capillary medium, in accordance with an embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2A is a perspective topside view of a heater assembly comprising a filament arrangement of planar shape with a central opening;

(4) FIG. 2B is a perspective topside view of a heater assembly comprising a filament arrangement of curved shape with a central opening;

(5) FIG. 2C is a perspective topside view of a heater assembly comprising a filament arrangement of funnel shape with a central opening;

(6) FIG. 3 is a perspective topside view of a capillary medium comprising a first capillary medium and a second capillary medium with both having a central opening;

(7) FIG. 4A is a perspective topside view of an arrangement comprising a heater assembly and a capillary medium, in accordance with an embodiment;

(8) FIG. 4B is a perspective topside view of an arrangement comprising a heater assembly and a capillary medium, in accordance with an embodiment; and

(9) FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a system, incorporating a cartridge comprising a heater assembly and a capillary medium, in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Various example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are shown. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Thus, the embodiments may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only example embodiments set forth herein. Therefore, it should be understood that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope.

(11) In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity, and like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures.

(12) Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

(13) It will be understood that, if an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected, or coupled, to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, if an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).

(14) The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” if used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

(15) Spatially relative terms (e.g., “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like) may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or a relationship between a feature and another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, for example, the term “below” can encompass both an orientation that is above, as well as, below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or viewed or referenced at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

(16) Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures). As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, may be expected. Thus, example embodiments should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but may include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle may have rounded or curved features and/or a gradient (e.g., of implant concentration) at its edges rather than an abrupt change from an implanted region to a non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried region formed by implantation may result in some implantation in the region between the buried region and the surface through which the implantation may take place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes do not necessarily illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and do not limit the scope.

(17) It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

(18) Although corresponding plan views and/or perspective views of some cross-sectional view(s) may not be shown, the cross-sectional view(s) of device structures illustrated herein provide support for a plurality of device structures that extend along two different directions as would be illustrated in a plan view, and/or in three different directions as would be illustrated in a perspective view. The two different directions may or may not be orthogonal to each other. The three different directions may include a third direction that may be orthogonal to the two different directions. The plurality of device structures may be integrated in a same electronic device. For example, when a device structure (e.g., a memory cell structure or a transistor structure) is illustrated in a cross-sectional view, an electronic device may include a plurality of the device structures (e.g., memory cell structures or transistor structures), as would be illustrated by a plan view of the electronic device. The plurality of device structures may be arranged in an array and/or in a two-dimensional pattern.

(19) Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

(20) In order to more specifically describe example embodiments, various features will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, example embodiments described are not limited thereto.

(21) FIG. 1 shows a filament arrangement 30 according to one of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The filament arrangement has a filament opening 32. A capillary medium 22 is in contact with the filament arrangement 30. The capillary medium has a capillary medium opening 28 that acts as an air duct through the capillary medium 22. Ambient air is guided in airflow 40 to the air impingement surface of the filament arrangement 30. The suction of the air duct through the capillary medium 22 causes an acceleration of the airflow so that the volatized vapors are drawn in an airflow 42 through the air duct.

(22) FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate various shapes of filament arrangements 30, each having a filament opening 32 in a center portion of the filament arrangement 30.

(23) FIG. 2A shows a planar filament arrangement 30. Turbulences and vortexes of the airflow 40 on the air impingement surface of the filament arrangement are caused by the central opening acting as an entrance to the air duct of the capillary medium opening 28.

(24) FIG. 2B shows a non-planar filament arrangement 30 that is curved along one dimension. The curved shape causes a whirling of the airflow 40 on the air impingement surface. This effect is further increased by the optional filament opening 32.

(25) FIG. 2C shows a non-planar filament arrangement 30 having a funnel shape with an optional filament opening 32 at the bottom of the funnel shaped filament arrangement 30. The funnel shape causes a whirling of the airflow 40 on the air impingement surface. This effect is further increased by the optional filament opening 32.

(26) FIG. 3 shows a capillary medium 22 to be used in an aerosol-generating system. There are two separate capillary mediums 44, 46 in use. A larger body of a second capillary medium 46 is provided on an opposite side of the first capillary medium 44 that is in contact with the filament arrangement 30 of the heater assembly. Both the first capillary medium 44 and the second capillary medium 46 retain liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The first capillary medium 44, which contacts the filament arrangement, has a higher thermal decomposition temperature (at least 160 degrees Celsius or higher such as approximately 250 degrees Celsius) than the second capillary medium 46. The first capillary medium 44 effectively acts as a spacer separating the filament arrangement 30 from the second capillary medium 46 so that the second capillary medium is not exposed to temperatures above its thermal decomposition temperature. The first capillary medium 44 is flexible and preferably accommodates to the non-planar shape of the heater assembly, such that the contact surface between the capillary medium and the heater assembly is maximized.

(27) The thermal gradient across the first capillary medium is such that the second capillary medium is exposed to temperatures below its thermal decomposition temperature. The second capillary medium 46 may be chosen to have superior wicking performance to the first capillary medium 44, may retain more liquid per unit volume than the first capillary medium and may be less expensive than the first capillary medium. The capillary medium 22 comprises a capillary medium opening 28 acting as an air duct through the capillary medium 22.

(28) FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the combination of a filament arrangement 30 with two separate capillary mediums 44, 46 that guide the airflow 42 through an air duct defined by the capillary medium opening 28 after being mixed with volatized vapors on the surface of the filament arrangement 30. Alternatively, the airflow may be guided in the reverse direction, i.e. the ambient air may be guided as airflow 40 through the air duct to the surface of the filament arrangement 30.

(29) FIG. 4A shows a planar filament arrangement 30 with a filament opening 32 that extends the capillary medium opening 28. The air duct through the capillary mediums 44, 46 accelerates the airflow and improves aerosolization.

(30) FIG. 4B shows a non-planar filament arrangement 30 of a funnel shape with a filament opening 32 at the bottom end of the filament arrangement 30, the filament opening 32 extending the capillary medium opening 28. The funnel shape creates turbulences and vortexes that encourage the mixing of the volatized vapors with the ambient air.

(31) In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4B the lower portion of the filament arrangement 30 is in direct contact with the second capillary medium 46. Of course the size of capillary medium 44 can also be increased, such that it covers the complete filament arrangement 30, and such that direct contact between the filament arrangement 30 and the second capillary medium 46 is prevented.

(32) FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an aerosol-generating system, including a cartridge 20 with a heater assembly comprising a filament arrangement 30 according to one of the embodiments of the present disclosure and with a capillary medium 22 according to one of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The aerosol-generating system comprises an aerosol-generating device 10 and a separate cartridge 20. In this example, the aerosol-generating system is an electrically operated vaping system.

(33) The cartridge 20 contains an aerosol-forming substrate and is configured to be received in a cavity 18 within the device. Cartridge 20 should be replaceable by an adult vaper when the aerosol-forming substrate provided in the cartridge 20 is depleted. FIG. 5 shows the cartridge 20 just prior to insertion into the device, with the arrow 1 in FIG. 5 indicating the direction of insertion of the cartridge 20. The heater assembly with the filament arrangement 30 and the capillary medium 22 is located in the cartridge 20 behind a cover 26. The aerosol-generating device 10 is portable and may have a size comparable to a conventional cigar or cigarette. The device 10 comprises a main body 11 and a mouthpiece portion 12. The main body 11 contains a power supply 14, for example a battery such as a lithium iron phosphate battery, control electronics 16 and a cavity 18. The mouthpiece portion 12 is connected to the main body 11 by a hinged connection 21 and can move between an open position as shown in FIG. 5 and a closed position. The mouthpiece portion 12 is placed in the open position to allow for insertion and removal of cartridges 20 and is placed in the closed position when the system is to be used to generate aerosol. The mouthpiece portion comprises a plurality of air inlets 13 and an outlet 15. In use, an adult vaper draws or puffs on the outlet to draw air from the air inlets 13, through the mouthpiece portion and the cartridge 20 to the outlet 15. Internal baffles 17 are provided to force the air flowing through the mouthpiece portion 12 past the cartridge.

(34) The cavity 18 has a circular cross-section and is sized to receive a housing 24 of the cartridge 20. Electrical connectors 19 are provided at the sides of the cavity 18 to provide an electrical connection between the control electronics 16 and battery 14 and corresponding electrical contacts on the cartridge 20.

(35) Other cartridge designs incorporating a heater assembly with a filament arrangement 30 in accordance with this disclosure and/or a capillary medium 22 in accordance with this disclosure can now be conceived by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the cartridge 20 may include a mouthpiece portion 12, may include more than one heater assembly and may have any desired shape. Furthermore, a heater assembly in accordance with the disclosure may be used in systems of other types to those already described, such as humidifiers, air fresheners, and other aerosol-generating systems.

(36) The exemplary embodiments described above illustrate but are not limiting. In view of the above discussed exemplary embodiments, other embodiments consistent with the above exemplary embodiments will now be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.