A heat transfer assembly

Abstract

A heat transfer assembly for heating an aerosol generating medium, such as a cigarette, without burning. The heat transfer assembly comprises a heat absorber, a heat modulator, and a heat diffuser. The heat absorber is configured to absorb thermal energy from a proximate heat source in a first temperature range. The heat absorber is thermally coupled to the heat modulator, and the heat modulator is thermally coupled to the heat diffuser. The heat modulator is configured to absorb the thermal energy emitted from the heat source, and to provide thermal energy to the heat diffuser in a second temperature range different to the first temperature range, wherein the lowest temperature of the first temperature range is greater than the highest temperature of the second temperature range. The heat modulator comprises at least one phase change material.

1 . A heat transfer assembly for heating an aerosol generating medium without burning, wherein the heat transfer assembly comprises:
 a heat absorber;   a heat modulator; and   a heat diffuser;   wherein the heat absorber is configured to absorb thermal energy from a proximate heat source in a first temperature range;   wherein the heat absorber is thermally coupled to the heat modulator, and the heat modulator is thermally coupled to the heat diffuser;   wherein the heat modulator is configured to absorb the thermal energy emitted from the heat source, and to provide thermal energy to the heat diffuser in a second temperature range different to the first temperature range, wherein the lowest temperature of the first temperature range is greater than the highest temperature of the second temperature range; and wherein the heat modulator comprises at least one phase change material.   
     
     
         2 . The heat transfer assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat source is configured, in use, to generate a flame, and at least a portion of the heat absorber is configured, in use, to absorb heat emitted by the flame. 
     
     
         3 . The heat transfer assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat absorber comprises a cavity configured to substantially surround the flame produced by the heat source, in use. 
     
     
         4 . The heat transfer assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the heat absorber forming the cavity comprises an internal periphery with an insulating portion configured to insulate against thermal conduction to a corresponding external periphery of the heat absorber, in use. 
     
     
         5 . The heat transfer assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat absorber further comprises a thermally conductive portion capable of transferring heat from inside the cavity to a surface of the heat modulator. 
     
     
         6 . The heat transfer assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the heat modulator comprises a sealed body containing the at least one phase change material.   
     
     
         7 . The heat transfer assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the heat modulator is further configured to thermally conduct a proportion of the heat from the heat absorber to the heat diffuser via a bypass through the at least one phase change material comprised in the heat modulator.   
     
     
         8 . The heat transfer assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the heat diffuser is configured to transfer heat to a heat not burn cigarette to enable aerosolization of one or more volatile compounds therein.   
     
     
         9 . The heat transfer assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the heat diffuser comprises at least one elongate thermally conductive member thermally coupled to the heat modulator.   
     
     
         10 . An aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generating substrate comprised in an aerosol generating article, wherein the aerosol is generated by heating, not burning, the aerosol generating substrate, wherein the aerosol generating device comprises:
 a first receptacle configured to receive a flame source;   a heat transfer assembly according to  claim 1 , and   a second receptacle configured to receive an aerosol generating article;   
       wherein, in use, the flame source adjacent to, or comprised in, the first receptacle is configured to be actuatable by a user to generate thermal energy, and to transfer the thermal energy to the heat absorber of the heat transfer assembly; 
       wherein the second receptacle is configured to accept an aerosol generating article, and the heat transfer assembly is configured to transfer thermal energy from the flame source to a portion of the aerosol generating device comprising the aerosol generating substrate, so that the aerosol generating substrate releases vapour to a user without burning. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the aerosol generating device is arranged longitudinally within a casing member between a proximal end comprising the second receptacle and a distal end comprising the first receptacle.   
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the casing member houses a replaceable flame source at the distal end of the aerosol generating device.   
     
     
         13 . A heat not burn lighter assembly comprising a first flame source and a second flame source;
 wherein a distal end of the lighter assembly comprises a first ignition mechanism of the first flame source, and a proximal end of the lighter assembly comprises the second flame source provided with a second ignition mechanism;   wherein the proximal end of the lighter assembly further comprises:
 a first receptacle configured to absorb heat from the second flame source; 
 a heat transfer assembly according to  claim 1 , and 
 a second receptacle configured to receive an aerosol generating article; 
 wherein, in use, the second flame source is configured to be actuatable by a user via the second ignition mechanism of the second flame source to thereby generate thermal energy, and to transfer the thermal energy to the heat absorber of the heat transfer assembly; 
 wherein, in use, the second receptacle houses the aerosol generating article, and the heat transfer assembly is configured to transfer thermal energy from the second flame source to a portion of the aerosol generating device comprising the aerosol generating substrate, so that the aerosol generating substrate releases vapour to a user without burning. 
   
     
     
         14 . A kit of parts comprising:
 an aerosol generating device according to  claim 10 ;   a lighter capable of being accommodated in the first receptacle of the aerosol generating device; and   one or more aerosol generating articles capable of being accommodated in the second receptacle of the aerosol generating device.   
     
     
         15 . A lighter assembly for heating an aerosol generating medium without burning, comprising:
 a flame source;   a heat absorber;   a heat diffuser;   a heatable product receiver and   a heat regulator;   a heat modulator;   
       wherein the heat absorber is configured to absorb heat emitted by the flame source in a first temperature range, in use; 
       wherein the heat diffuser is thermally coupled to the heat absorber and the heatable product receiver to enable a transfer of heat from the flame source to the heatable product receiver, in use; 
       wherein the heat regulator is operably coupled to the flame source and/or the heat absorber, wherein the heat regulator is configured to cause the flame source and/or the heat absorber provide thermal energy to the heat diffuser in a second temperature range different to the first temperature range, wherein the lowest temperature of the first temperature range is greater than the highest temperature of the second temperature range, and wherein the heat modulator comprises at least one phase change material. 
     
     
         16 . A method for heating an aerosol generating medium without burning using an aerosol generating device according  claim 10  comprising:
 inserting a lighter into the first receptacle of the aerosol generating device; 
 inserting an aerosol generating article into the second receptacle of the aerosol generating device; 
 actuating an ignition mechanism of the lighter so that a flame source emits thermal energy at a first temperature to be absorbed by the heat absorber of the heat transfer assembly of the aerosol generating device, wherein the ignition mechanism of the lighter is actuated for a predetermined time interval; 
 modulating the thermal energy from the first temperature down to a second temperature using the heat modulator comprising at least one phase change material, and to conducting thermal energy to the heat diffuser in a second temperature range different to the first temperature range, wherein the lowest temperature of the first temperature range is greater than the highest temperature of the second temperature range; and 
 distributing heat into the aerosol generating article in second receptacle of the aerosol generating device via the heat diffuser. 
 
     
     
         17 . The heat transfer assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the cavity is further configured to conduct thermal energy from the flame source towards the heat diffuser, in use. 
     
     
         18 . The heat transfer assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein a first portion of the sealed body is in thermally conductive contact with the heat absorber, and a second portion of the sealed body is in thermally conductive contact with the heat diffuser. 
     
     
         19 . The heat transfer assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the elongate thermally conductive member is configured to lodge within a heat not burn cigarette upon insertion of the heat not burn cigarette into the heat diffuser.