Aerosol Generating Device Having Vapour-Cooling Passageway

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol generating device, comprising an inhalation outlet; a chamber for holding a material, the material capable of generating a vapour when heated; a heater for heating material held in the chamber; an air inlet connected by an air inlet passage to the chamber; a vapour-cooling module providing a fluidic connection between the chamber and inhalation outlet, the module configured to cool a vapour passing there through. In use, suction at the inhalation outlet causes air to enter the chamber via the air inlet, thereby transporting the vapour generated in the chamber through the vapour-cooling module to the inhalation outlet, such that the temperature of the vapour exiting the device through the inhalation outlet is substantially lower than the temperature of the vapour generated in the chamber. The aerosol generating device thereby provides a means whereby a vapour generated in the chamber is substantially cooled during transport from the chamber through the mouthpiece to the user.

1 . An aerosol generating device, comprising:
 a body having chamber for holding a material, the material capable of generating a vapour when heated;   a heater for heating the material held in the chamber; and   a vapour-cooling module having a vapour-cooling passageway including a first portion and a second portion, the vapour-cooling module including:   a cap defining an inhalation outlet;   a connecting member defining a first portion of the vapour-cooling passageway; and   an internal back plate arranged within the cap defining an aperture, the internal back plate and the cap collectively defining the second portion of the vapour-cooling passageway, the aperture providing a fluid connection between the first portion of the vapour-cooling passageway and the second portion of the vapour-cooling passageway,   wherein the vapour-cooling passageway has a length arranged to reduce a temperature of the vapour as the vapour is transported through the vapour-cooling passageway from the chamber to the inhalation outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the vapour-cooling module further comprises a magnet to removably connect the vapour-cooling module to the body, wherein the magnet is provided in a cavity formed by the internal back plate and the connecting member. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the vapour-cooling passageway is approximately 600 mm 3  or greater. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air inlet fluidly connected to the chamber by an air inlet passage.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 4 , wherein the length of the vapour-cooling passageway is longer than a length of the air inlet passage. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the vapour-cooling passageway is substantially linear. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the vapour-cooling passageway defines a curved path. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 7 , wherein the curved path is substantially helical. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 7 , wherein the curved path is coiled within a cross sectional plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating device. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 4 , wherein a size of at least one of the air inlet and the inhalation outlet is adjustable. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 4 , wherein a size of the inhalation outlet is greater than a size of the air inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 4 , wherein a size of the air inlet is greater than a size of the inhalation outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater is configured to heat but not burn the material held in the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is configured to receive a cartridge containing the material and the heater is configured to heat the material within the cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the vapour-cooling module is positioned at one end of the body such that the vapour-cooling module acts as a mouthpiece. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the vapour-cooling module is removably connected to the body to expose the chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 16 , wherein a chamber-interfacing end of the detachable vapour-cooling module comprises a protrusion that provides a fluidic connection with the chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the vapour-cooling module defines an air inlet fluidly connected by an air inlet passage to the chamber, and the air inlet passageway runs through the protrusion, alongside the first portion of the vapour-cooling passageway.   
     
     
         19 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 17 , wherein the chamber interfacing end of the protrusion forms a point to pierce a cartridge held within the chamber when the vapour-cooling module is connected to the body. 
     
     
         20 . A kit comprising:
 a cartridge containing a material capable of generating a vapour when heated; and   an aerosol generating device, including:
 a body having chamber for receiving the cartridge; 
 a heater for heating the material held in the cartridge; and 
 a vapour-cooling module having a vapour-cooling passageway including a first portion and a second portion, the vapour-cooling module including: 
 a cap defining an inhalation outlet; 
 a connecting member defining a first portion of the vapour-cooling passageway; and 
 an internal back plate arranged within the cap defining an aperture, the internal back plate and the cap collectively defining the second portion of the vapour-cooling passageway, the aperture providing a fluid connection between the first portion of the vapour-cooling passageway and the second portion of the vapour-cooling passageway, 
 wherein the vapour-cooling passageway has a length arranged to reduce a temperature of the vapour as the vapour is transported through the vapour-cooling passageway from the chamber to the inhalation outlet.