Electrical smoking system

• US 20070102013A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yang, Zuyin, Hearn, John, Lee, Robert, Adams, John, Larson, Steven, Hairfield, John, Ripley, Robert, Wrenn, Susan, Crowe, William, Baggett, James, Stevenson, Brett
• Application Number:
  US11/528,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20070102013A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/273
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 1/20 Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/20 Devices using solid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures

Abstract

A tobacco mass is heated to a temperature of about 150° to about 220° C. to release flavorful tobacco volatiles, which are entrained in air passing through the tobacco mass, and condensed to form an inhalable aerosol. The tobacco mass may have a rotationally symmetric shape, with at least part of its surface in heat transfer relationship with a heater. The heater may be an external shell, an internal rod, or a plate. A shell can enclose the heater and tobacco mass and define a preheating chamber for inflowing air. A mouthpiece, with or without a filter, may be arranged in fluid communication with the tobacco mass to direct the aerosol from the heating system.

Claims

1. A combustionless tobacco smoking system comprising:

a tobacco mass; and

heating apparatus, substantially enclosing the tobacco mass, electrically operated, operable to heat the tobacco mass to a temperature in the range of 150 to 220°

C., defining a heat transfer channel through which air is directed.

2. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the tobacco mass has a rotationally symmetric shape;

(b) the tobacco mass is enclosed in a carrier; and

/or

(c) at least part of the surface of the tobacco mass conforms to the heating apparatus.

3. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 2, wherein:

(a) the tobacco mass has a generally cylindrical shape;

(b) the tobacco mass has a disk shape;

or

(c) the tobacco mass is generally toroidal.

4. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 3, wherein:

(a) the cylindrical shape is solid;

or

(b) the cylindrical shape is hollow.

5. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 2, wherein:

(a) the carrier is paper;

or

(b) the carrier is a mesh material.

6. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 2, wherein:

(a) the heating apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical heating element;

(b) the heater includes a rod, the rod being received by the tobacco mass;

(c) the heater includes a heater plate; and

/or

(d) the heater includes an annular plate and a disk-shaped plate, and wherein the tobacco mass is sandwiched between the annular plate and the disk-shaped plate.

7. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 6, further including a shroud which receives the substantially cylindrical heating element.

8. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 7, wherein the substantially cylindrical heating element and the shroud define a preheating chamber for air.

9. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 2, further including a mouthpiece having an end in fluid communication with the tobacco mass.

10. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 9, wherein:

(a) the mouthpiece includes a second end having a filter; and

/or

(b) the mouthpiece is attached between the tobacco mass and the heater.

11. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 6, wherein the heater rod has an end extending from the tobacco mass, and wherein a heater disk is attached to the heater rod.

12. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 11, wherein the heater disk includes air passages.

13. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 6, wherein:

(a) the heater plate is generally circular; and

/or

(b) the heater plate includes air passages therethrough.

14. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 6, further including:

(a) an insulation plate generally coextensive with the heater plate; and

/or

(b) a baffle substantially surrounding the tobacco mass and operable to direct airflow into the tobacco mass.

15. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 14, further including an annular heating plate.

16. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 15, wherein the baffle and the annular heating plate define a preheating passage.

17. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 14, further including a connector tube which defines an airflow passage for air leaving the smoking system.

18. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 17, further including a mouthpiece.

19. The combustionless tobacco smoking system of claim 18, wherein the mouthpiece includes a filter.

20. A method of producing a tobacco aerosol comprising:

establishing a stream of air;

contacting a tobacco mass with said stream of air while heating said tobacco mass to a temperature in the range of 150 to 220°

C., defining a heat transfer channel through which air is directed.