Electrical smoking system

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.

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.