Aerosol-generating article having an air channelling element with inner and outer air passageways

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol upon heating. The aerosol-generating article comprises a rod of aerosol-generating substrate. The aerosol-generating article comprises an air channelling element abutting the rod of aerosol-generating substrate. The air channelling element comprises a body comprising a core portion and a peripheral portion. The core portion comprises one or more inner air passageways and the peripheral portion comprises one or more outer air passageways. A total cross-sectional area of the one or more outer air passageways is greater than a total cross-sectional area of the one or more inner air passageways. The aerosol-generating article further comprises a ventilation zone, which allows fluid ingress into the outer air passageway from the exterior of the article.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol upon heating and an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber, the aerosol-generating article being configured to be received within the heating chamber and comprising:
 a rod of aerosol-generating substrate;   a downstream section located downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the downstream section comprising a downstream air channelling element abutting a downstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the downstream air channelling element comprises a body comprising a core portion and a peripheral portion circumscribing the core portion, wherein the peripheral portion extends between the outer periphery of the air channelling element and the core portion, the core portion comprising one or more inner air passageways and the peripheral portion comprising one or more outer air passageways, wherein a total cross-sectional area of the one or more outer air passageways is greater than a total cross-sectional area of the one or more inner air passageways; and   a ventilation zone located along the downstream air channelling element, wherein the ventilation zone establishes a fluid communication with the one or more outer air passageways;   wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a heater configured to externally heat the rod of aerosol-generating substrate.   
     
     
         17 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , further comprising an upstream section located upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the upstream section comprising an upstream air channelling element abutting an upstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the upstream air channelling element comprises a body comprising a core portion and a peripheral portion, the core portion comprising one or more inner air passageways and the peripheral portion comprising one or more outer air passageways, wherein a total cross-sectional area of the one or more outer air passageways is greater than a total cross-sectional area of the one or more inner air passageways. 
     
     
         18 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein the downstream section further comprises a mouthpiece element, wherein the downstream air channelling element is located between the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and the mouthpiece element. 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein the downstream section further comprises a hollow tubular element, wherein the downstream air channelling element is located between the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and the hollow tubular element. 
     
     
         20 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein each outer air passageway is defined by a groove provided on an external surface of the air channelling element. 
     
     
         21 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein a depth of a groove is at least 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         22 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein a depth of a groove is no greater than 2 mm. 
     
     
         23 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein each outer air passageway is defined by an internal cavity extending along the air channelling element. 
     
     
         24 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein a ratio of the total cross-sectional area of the one or more outer air passageways to the total cross-sectional area of the one or more inner air passageways is at least 2. 
     
     
         25 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein a ratio of the total cross-sectional area of the one or more outer air passageways to the total cross-sectional area of the one or more inner air passageways is no more than 10. 
     
     
         26 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more outer air passageways comprises at least four outer air passageways. 
     
     
         27 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein a ratio of the total cross-sectional area of the one or more outer air passageways to the total cross-sectional area of the air channelling element is at least about 30 percent. 
     
     
         28 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein the aerosol-generating substrate has an aerosol former content of at least 5 percent on a dry weight basis. 
     
     
         29 . An aerosol-generating article according to  claim 16 , wherein the aerosol-generating substrate has an aerosol former content of at least 10 percent on a dry weight basis.