Heat insulated apparatus for heating smokable material

Abstract

An apparatus configured to heat smokeable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokeable material, wherein the apparatus comprises a region of insulation having a core region which is evacuated to a lower pressure than an exterior of the insulation.

1 . An apparatus configured to heat smokeable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokeable material, wherein the apparatus comprises a region of insulation having a core region which is evacuated to a lower pressure than an exterior of the insulation, wherein the core region comprises a deep vacuum. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum is a hyper deep vacuum. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulation is located between a smokeable material heating chamber and an exterior of the apparatus to reduce heat loss from heated smokeable material. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the insulation is located co-axially around the heating chamber. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the smokeable material heating chamber comprises a substantially tubular heating chamber and the insulation is located around a longitudinal surface of the tubular heating chamber. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the insulation comprises a substantially tubular body of insulation located around the heating chamber. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the smokeable material heating chamber is located between the insulation and a heater. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein a heater is located between the smokeable material heating chamber and the insulation. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the insulation is located externally of the heater. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the heater is located co-axially around the heating chamber and the insulation is located co-axially around the heater. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to any of  claim 1 , wherein the insulation comprises an infra-red radiation-reflective material to reduce the propagation of infra-red radiation through the insulation. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to any of  claim 1 , wherein the insulation comprises an exterior wall which encloses the core region. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein an internal surface of the wall comprises an infra-red radiation-reflective coating to reflect infra-red radiation within the core region. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the wall comprises a layer of stainless steel having a thickness of at least approximately 100 microns. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein wall sections either side of the core region are connected by a joining wall section which follows an indirect path between the wall sections either side of the core region. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein wall sections either side of the core region converge to a sealed gas outlet. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said wall sections converge in an end region of the insulation. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the insulation is less than approximately 1 mm. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the insulation is less than approximately 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the insulation is between approximately 1 mm and 0.001 mm. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a heat transfer coefficient of the insulation is between approximately 1.10 W/(m 2 K) and approximately 1.40 W/(m 2 K) when a temperature of the insulation is in a range of from 100 degrees Celsius to 250 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the core region comprises a porous material. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus according to any of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to heat the smokeable material using an electrically-powered heater. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus according to any of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to heat the smokeable material without combusting the smokeable material.