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JP-7855688-B2 - Aerosol generator with restricted airflow path

JP7855688B2JP 7855688 B2JP7855688 B2JP 7855688B2JP-7855688-B2

Inventors

  • トゥッリーニ エンリコ
  • ユテュリー ジェローム

Assignees

  • フィリップ・モーリス・プロダクツ・ソシエテ・アノニム

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20211025

Claims (15)

  1. Aerosol generator, Air intake and A cavity for containing at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article, An airflow channel that defines an airflow path extending between the air intake and the cavity, The airflow channel comprises a first airflow channel section and a second airflow channel section, wherein the cross-sectional area of the airflow path in the first airflow channel section is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the airflow path in the second airflow channel section, and the aerosol generator is configured to restrict the airflow within the first airflow channel section. An aerosol generator comprising an airflow channel having an extraction resistance of 25 millimeters of water column to 70 millimeters of water column when passing through the airflow channel.
  2. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, wherein the end of the first airflow channel is disposed at the air intake to restrict the airflow path at the air intake.
  3. The aerosol generator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the airflow path in the second airflow channel to the cross-sectional area of the airflow path in the first airflow channel is 10:1 to 100:1.
  4. The aerosol generator according to claim 3, wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the airflow path in the second airflow channel to the cross-sectional area of the airflow path in the first airflow channel is 10:1 to 20:1.
  5. The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the ratio of the length of the second airflow channel to the length of the first airflow channel is 5:1 to 1:1.
  6. The aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the first airflow channel portion is tapered.
  7. The aerosol generator according to claim 6 , wherein the first airflow channel has an outlet width or diameter at the downstream end of the first airflow channel that is smaller than the inlet width or diameter at the upstream end of the first airflow channel.
  8. The aerosol generator according to claim 6 , wherein the first airflow channel has an outlet width or diameter at the downstream end of the first airflow channel that is larger than the inlet width or diameter at the upstream end of the first airflow channel.
  9. The aerosol generator according to claim 8 , wherein the outlet width or diameter of the first airflow channel is 5 to 15 percent larger than the inlet width of the first airflow channel.
  10. The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the airflow channel comprises a tubular casing, the inner surface of the tubular casing defines the airflow path, and the first airflow channel portion of the tubular casing has an internal width or diameter of 0.5 mm to 2 mm.
  11. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first and second airflow channel sections are integrally formed within the tubular casing.
  12. The aerosol generator according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first airflow channel portion comprises a removable plug configured to connect to the second airflow channel portion, the plug having a through hole extending between its opposing ends, and defining an airflow path through the plug .
  13. The aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a heater for heating the aerosol generating article within the cavity.
  14. An aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and an aerosol generating article, wherein the aerosol generating article includes an aerosol forming substrate.
  15. The aerosol generating system according to claim 14, wherein the aerosol generating article has a draw resistance of less than 50 percent of the draw resistance of the airflow channel of the aerosol generating device.

Description

This disclosure relates to an aerosol generator. Specifically, this disclosure relates to a handheld, electrically operated aerosol generator for heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol and delivering the aerosol to a user, but is not exclusive. This disclosure also relates to an aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generator and an aerosol-generating article. Aerosol generators that generate aerosols by heating an aerosol-forming substrate without burning the substrate are known in the art and are often called heated non-combustion devices. The aerosol-forming substrate is typically provided within an aerosol-generating article along with other components such as a filter. The aerosol-generating article may have a rod shape for insertion into the cavity of the aerosol generator. A heating element is typically positioned inside or around the cavity to heat the aerosol-forming substrate once the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the cavity. During use, the heating element heats the aerosol-generating article inserted into the cavity of the aerosol generator, generating aerosols from the aerosol-forming substrate. In many such devices, the user inhales the aerosol from the end of the aerosol-generating article protruding from the aerosol generator. For users, "drawdown resistance" (RTD) is a crucial quality parameter of an aerosol-generating article, measuring the pressure drop as air passes through it. In other words, it measures how much force the user needs to exert to inhale air and the generated aerosols through the article. For aerosol-generating articles used in heated, non-combustible devices, it is desirable that the RTD replicates the inhalation experience of a conventional cigarette. An acceptable RTD for the comfort of a conventional cigarette user is typically in the range of 60–100 millimeters of water column (mmWg). There are several ways to customize the Ready-to-Use (RTD) of aerosol generating articles. For example, the RTD can be adjusted by changing the density or size of the tobacco components within the tobacco plug. Alternatively or additionally, elements that restrict airflow and thus cause a pressure drop can be provided at the proximal or distal end of the consumable, such as a filter. Furthermore, the tolerance of the RTD parameters for various components of the aerosol generating article is particularly important for rods made from natural materials, such as tobacco rods made solely from finely chopped and slightly compressed tobacco leaves. For example, the RTD variation of a tobacco plug with a length of 10 mm can vary from 10 mmWg to 25 mmWg. This variation affects the performance of the aerosol generating article and the aerosol delivered to the user. Moreover, once the components of an aerosol generating article, such as a filter plug or tobacco plug, are manufactured, there is little possibility of further adjusting the RTD. Therefore, users may need to produce different suction forces for different aerosol generating articles, which can negatively impact the user experience. As used herein, the terms “distal,” “upstream,” “proximal,” and “downstream” describe the relative positions of components or parts of components of an aerosol generating device and aerosol generating article. The aerosol generating articles and devices according to this disclosure have a proximal end through which aerosol exits the aerosol generating article or device for delivery to the user during use, and a distal end on the opposite side. During use, the user inhales the proximal end of the aerosol generating article. The terms upstream and downstream refer to the direction of movement of aerosol or air through the aerosol generating article or aerosol generating device when the user inhales the proximal end of the aerosol generating article. The proximal end of the aerosol generating article is downstream of the distal end of the aerosol generating article. The proximal end of the aerosol generating article may also be referred to as the downstream end of the aerosol generating article, and the distal end of the aerosol generating article may also be referred to as the upstream end of the aerosol generating article. To provide a satisfying and consistent user experience, it is desirable to provide an aerosol generator that is less dependent on the characteristics of the aerosol-generating article. In particular, it is desirable to provide an aerosol generator that provides a more stable and repeatable RTD (Ready-to-Down Discharge). An aerosol generator is provided according to embodiments of this disclosure. The aerosol generator may include an air intake. The aerosol generator may include a cavity for receiving an aerosol generating article. The aerosol generator may include an airflow channel defining an airflow path extending between the air intake and the cavity. The airflow channel may comprise a first airflow channel section and a second airflow channel