Aerosol guiding device and aerosol generating system comprising said aerosol guiding device

• US 10,334,884 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JT International SA (Japan Tobacco Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JT International SA (Japan Tobacco Inc.)
• Inventors: Rogan, Andrew Robert John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Phuong K
• Application Number:
  US15/548,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20180000159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 131328-329
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/44 Wicks
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/001 Particle size control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/04 operated by the vapour pressure of the liquid to be sprayed or atomised air-humidification, e.g. "room humidifiers" F24F6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/127 with provisions for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3633 thermally insulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/20 having means for promoting or enhancing the flow, actively or passively
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/28 in boilers heated electrically superheating using an electrical heat source independent from heat supply of the steam boiler F22G1/165
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 : Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 : Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/022 : Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/06 : Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/44 : heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/108 : for heating a fluid

Abstract

An aerosol generating system may include aerosol generating means, aerosol delivery means, and an aerosol guiding device. The aerosol guiding device may include a chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, and the aerosol delivery means may be configured such that aerosol is introduced from the aerosol generating means into the chamber in use. An airflow route may be defined from the air inlet to the air outlet so as to convey the aerosol to the air outlet, and the relative dimensions of the air inlet and the air outlet may be selected to provide pressure control means for controlling the pressure differential between the air inlet and the air outlet. An aerosol guiding device for use in an aerosol generating system may include a chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating system, the system comprising:

aerosol generating means;

aerosol delivery means; and

an aerosol guiding device,

wherein the aerosol guiding device comprises a chamber having an air inlet, an air outlet, an upstream portion that tapers inwardly from the air inlet, and a downstream portion that tapers inwardly from the air outlet, the aerosol delivery means being configured such that aerosol is introduced from the aerosol generating means into the chamber in use, and

wherein an airflow route is defined from the air inlet to the air outlet, and the relative dimensions of the air inlet and the air outlet are selected to provide pressure control means for controlling the pressure differential between the air inlet and the air outlet.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are of the same dimensions.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the taper angle of the upstream portion of the chamber if provided is between 20 and 40 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the chamber.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure control means is configured to provide a pressure differential between the air inlet and the air outlet of between 75 and 110 mmWC in use.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an outer shell for housing the chamber of the aerosol guiding device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol guiding device is insertable and removable from the aerosol generating system.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating means is located outside the device and/or in close proximity to a narrowest part of the chamber.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating means comprises a heater, wherein the heater comprises any one of a ceramic, a coil of wire, inductive heating means, ultrasonic heating means, and piezoelectric heating means.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating means further comprises a wick that is received by the chamber and the wick is in communication with a liquid reservoir.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet has smaller dimensions than the air outlet or the air inlet has larger dimensions than the air outlet.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the taper angle of the downstream portion of the chamber if provided is between 3 and 7 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the chamber.

11. An aerosol guiding device for use in an aerosol generating system, the device comprising:

a chamber having an air inlet, an air outlet, an upstream portion that tapers inwardly from the air inlet, and a downstream portion that tapers inwardly from the air outlet;

wherein aerosol is introduced from an aerosol generating means into the chamber in use,

wherein an airflow route is defined from the air inlet to the air outlet so as to convey the aerosol to the air outlet, and

wherein the relative dimensions of the air inlet and the air outlet are selected to provide pressure control means for controlling the pressure differential between the air inlet and the air outlet.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are of the same dimensions.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the taper angle of the upstream portion of the chamber is between 20 and 40 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the chamber.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the pressure control means is configured to provide a pressure differential between the air inlet and the air outlet of between 75 and 110 mmWC in use.

16. The device according to claim 11, wherein the air inlet has smaller dimensions than the air outlet or the air inlet has larger dimensions than the air outlet.

17. The device according to claim 11, wherein the taper angle of the downstream portion of the chamber is between 3 and 7 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the chamber.