Smoking substitute apparatus

Abstract

A smoking substitute apparatus ( 150 ) with an air inlet; an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol precursor for inhalation by a user; an outlet formed at a mouthpiece; and an aerosol delivery conduit ( 602 ) extending downstream from the aerosol generator to the outlet. An air flow path extends between the air inlet and the outlet and along the aerosol delivery conduit for conveying the aerosol to the user. In operation, the aerosol generator heats the aerosol precursor to form vaporised aerosol precursor, the vaporised aerosol precursor being transported in the air flow and condensing to form aerosol droplets. The air flow path and the aerosol generator are configured to control the air flow characteristics at the aerosol generator to provide an aerosol with predetermined particle size characteristics at a first position along the air flow path in the aerosol delivery conduit. The apparatus further comprises an air flow disruptor ( 610 ) disposed in the aerosol delivery conduit ( 602 ) at or downstream of the first position, the air flow disruptor causing disruption of the air flow downstream of the air flow disruptor and consequently cooling of the aerosol droplets. The air flow disruptor comprises a protrusion extending into the air flow path laterally from a side wall ( 612 ) of the aerosol delivery conduit ( 602 ).

1 . A smoking substitute apparatus comprising:
 an air inlet;   an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol precursor for inhalation by a user;   an outlet formed at a mouthpiece;   an aerosol delivery conduit extending downstream from the aerosol generator to the outlet;
 at least one air flow path between the air inlet and the outlet and along the aerosol delivery conduit for conveying the aerosol to the user; 
   
       wherein, in operation, the aerosol generator heats the aerosol precursor to form vaporised aerosol precursor, the vaporised aerosol precursor being transported in the air flow and condensing to form aerosol droplets, 
       wherein the air flow path and the aerosol generator are configured to control the air flow characteristics at the aerosol generator to provide an aerosol with predetermined particle size characteristics at a first position along the air flow path in the aerosol delivery conduit, 
       the apparatus further comprising an air flow disruptor disposed in the aerosol delivery conduit at or downstream of the first position, the air flow disruptor causing disruption of the air flow downstream of the air flow disruptor and consequently cooling of the aerosol droplets,
 wherein the air flow disruptor comprises a protrusion extending into the air flow path laterally from a side wall of the aerosol delivery conduit; 
 
       wherein the aerosol delivery conduit has a tapered portion whose cross sectional area, when viewed in a plane perpendicular to a principal axis of the aerosol delivery conduit, reduces with progression along the principal axis in the upstream to downstream direction of the aerosol delivery conduit; and 
       wherein the protrusion of the flow disruptor extends from the side wall of the aerosol delivery conduit at the tapered portion of the aerosol delivery conduit. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the tapered portion of the aerosol delivery conduit extends for at least one quarter of the axial length of the aerosol delivery conduit. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the protrusion of the flow disruptor extends from the side wall of the aerosol delivery conduit, the protrusion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the principal axis of the aerosol delivery conduit towards the principal axis of the aerosol delivery conduit for a radial protrusion distance of less than half of the diameter of the aerosol delivery conduit at the position of the protrusion. 
     
     
         6 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the axial length of the protrusion, projected along the axial direction of the aerosol delivery conduit, is between 0.5 and 2 times the radial protrusion distance. 
     
     
         7 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the circumferential length of the protrusion, projected along a direction around the circumference of the aerosol delivery conduit, is between 0.5 and 2 times the radial protrusion distance. 
     
     
         8 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the protrusion includes an air flow facing surface, the air flow facing surface being disposed obliquely to the principal axis of the aerosol delivery conduit and being positioned to be impacted by air flowing in the aerosol delivery conduit from the upstream to downstream direction. 
     
     
         9 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the air flow facing surface of the protrusion is substantially planar. 
     
     
         10 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the protrusion has the form of a blade. 
     
     
         11 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 1  and further comprising the aerosol precursor; wherein the average temperature of the aerosol droplets at the first position is at least 70° C., and so that the average temperature of the aerosol droplets at a second position in the air flow path, corresponding to the outlet formed at the mouthpiece, is not more than 60° C., and wherein the aerosol particle size characteristics are substantially the same at the first position as at the second position.