AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM HAVING A FLUID-PERMEABLE HEATER ASSEMBLY

• US 20170027226A1
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philip Morris Products SA (Philip Morris Limited)
• Original Assignee: Philip Morris Products SA (Philip Morris Limited)
• Inventors: MIRONOV, Oleg, BATISTA, Rui Nuno
• Granted Patent: US 10,842,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/70 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0043 Non-destructive separation of the package, e.g. peeling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/011 Heaters using laterally extending conductive material as connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/015 Heater wherein the heating element is interwoven with the textile
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• 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 3/145 Carbon only, e.g. carbon black, graphite
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/16 : the conductor being mounted on an insulating base
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 : flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/342 : heaters used in textiles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/347 : woven fabrics

Abstract

An aerosol-generating system is provided, including a fluid-permeable electric heater assembly, the heater assembly including an electrically insulating substrate, an aperture being formed in the electrically insulating substrate, and a heater element having a first face fixed to the electrically insulating substrate, the heater element spanning the aperture and including a plurality of electrically conductive filaments connected to first and second electrically conductive contact portions, the first and second electrically conductive contact portions positioned on opposite sides of the aperture to one another, wherein the first and second electrically conductive contact portions are configured to allow contact with an external power supply.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating system comprising a fluid-permeable electric heater assembly, the heater assembly comprising:

an electrically insulating substrate;

an aperture formed in the electrically insulating substrate; and

a heater element fixed to the electrically insulating substrate, the heater element spanning the aperture and comprising a plurality of electrically conductive filaments connected to first and second electrically conductive contact portions, the first and second electrically conductive contact portions respectively positioned on opposite sides of the aperture to one another, the plurality of electrically conductive filaments form interstices, and the interstices have a width between 75 μ

m and 25 μ

m,

wherein the first and second electrically conductive contact portions are configured to allow contact with an external power supply.

2. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive filaments cover an area of between 10% and 50% of an area of the heater assembly.

3. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein an electrical resistance of the plurality of electrically conductive filaments is at least two orders of magnitude greater than an electrical resistance of the first and second electrically conductive contact portions.

4. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the heater element has a first face that is fixed to the electrically insulating substrate, and the first and second electrically conductive contact portions are configured to allow contact with the external power supply on a second face of the heater element opposite to the first face.

5. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive filaments lie in a substantially flat plane.

6. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive filaments consist of an array of filaments arranged parallel to one another.

7. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein an area of the plurality of electrically conductive filaments is less than 25 mm².

8. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrically conductive contact portions comprise planar contact portions fixed to the plurality of electrically conductive filaments.

9. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive filaments of the heater element further comprises at least one filament made from a first material and at least one filament made from a second material different from the first material.

10. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid storage portion comprising a housing containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the heater assembly is fixed to the housing of the liquid storage portion.

11. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the system is an electrically operated smoking system.

12. A method of manufacturing a fluid-permeable electric heater assembly for use in an aerosol-generating system, comprising:

providing an electrically insulating substrate;

forming one or more apertures in the substrate;

providing at least two planar electrically conductive contact portions on the substrate on opposite sides of the one or more apertures to one another; and

providing a plurality of electrically conductive filaments on the substrate extending between the at least two planar electrically conductive contact portions across the one or more apertures,

wherein the plurality of electrically conductive filaments form interstices, and the interstices have a width between 75 μ

m and 25 μ

m.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive filaments lie in a substantially flat plane.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive filaments consist of an array of filaments arranged parallel to one another.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein an area of the plurality of electrically conductive filaments is less than 25 mm².