Aerosol generating system with prevention of condensate leakage

• US 10,104,911 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2011
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philip Morris Products SA (Philip Morris Limited)
• Original Assignee: Philip Morris Products SA (Philip Morris Limited)
• Inventors: Thorens, Michel, Flick, Jean-Marc, Cochand, Olivier Yves, Dubief, Flavien
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddie, Elliot S
• Application Number:
  US13/990,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20130306064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,517 Days
• Field of Search: 131194, 1311982, 131270, 131273, 131290, 131329, 131330, 131360, 12820221
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 3/17 Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
• 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 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0808 Condensation traps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/108 before being humidified or mixed with a beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3646 by heat accumulators, e.g. ice, sand

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol generating system for heating a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The system includes an aerosol-forming chamber, and a leakage preventer for preventing or reducing leakage of liquid aerosol condensate from the aerosol generating system. The leakage preventer may include one or more of: at least one cavity in a wall of the aerosol-forming chamber, for collecting droplets of condensed liquid aerosol-forming substrate; at least one hooked member for collecting droplets of condensed liquid aerosol-forming substrate; an impactor for disrupting airflow in the aerosol-forming chamber so as to collect liquid droplets; and a closure member for substantially sealing the aerosol-forming chamber when the aerosol generating system is not in use.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating system for heating a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the system comprising:

an aerosol-forming chamber; and

leakage prevention means configured to prevent or reduce leakage of liquid aerosol condensate from the aerosol generating system,

wherein the leakage prevention means comprises at least one cavity in a wall of the aerosol-forming chamber, for collecting liquid condensate formed from the aerosol-forming substrate, and

wherein the at least one cavity is a blind hole recessed in the wall of the aerosol-forming chamber and has an open end, a closed end, and a longitudinal direction extending between the open end and the closed end, and wherein the at least one cavity has a largest cross-sectional dimension x taken along a cross-section of the cavity in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cavity, where x is 0.5 mm, or 1 mm, or between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

2. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity contains capillary material.

3. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the leakage prevention means comprises at least one hooked member for collecting droplets of liquid condensate formed from the aerosol-forming substrate.

4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one hooked member comprises a recycle path for recycling the collected droplets of the liquid condensate formed from the aerosol-forming substrate.

5. The aerosol generating system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one hooked member includes capillary material.

6. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the leakage prevention means comprises an impactor for disrupting airflow in the aerosol-forming chamber so as to collect droplets of liquid being formed from the aerosol-forming substrate.

7. The aerosol generating system according to claim 6, wherein the impactor includes capillary material.

8. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the leakage prevention means comprises a closure member for substantially sealing the aerosol-forming chamber when the aerosol generating system is not in use.

9. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid storage portion for storing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

10. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a capillary wick for conveying the liquid aerosol-forming substrate by capillary action.

11. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating system is electrically operated and further comprises an electric heater for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

12. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the leakage prevention means comprises two cavities in the wall of the aerosol-forming chamber.

13. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the leakage prevention means comprising the at least one cavity in the wall of the aerosol-forming chamber has a toroidal shape.