Airflow in aerosol generating system with mouthpiece

Abstract

An aerosol generating system includes a liquid storage portion, a liquid transfer element, a power supply, and a heating element operably coupled to the power supply and configured to heat the aerosol generating substrate. The system also includes a cover over the liquid storage portion.

1 . An aerosol generating system comprising:
 a first housing defining a first passage, the first housing including,
 a storage portion configured to contain an aerosol generating substrate; 
   a second housing defining a second passage, the first passage and the second passage defining an aerosol flow path, the second housing including,
 a heating element configured to heat the aerosol generating substrate; and 
   a third housing defining an inner chamber and an outlet, the inner chamber of the third housing configured to receive at least a portion of the first housing, the third housing defining an air flow path between the third housing and the at least a portion of the first housing, the air flow path in fluid communication with the outlet, the second housing defining one or more first inlets and one or more second inlets, at least one of the one or more first inlets and the one or more second inlets fluidly in communication with the at least the air flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner chamber of the third housing is configured to receive the first housing and the second housing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more first inlets are configured to align with the one or more second inlets. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured such that a volume of air that flows through the air flow path is less than a volume of air that flows through the aerosol flow path. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system has a resistance-to-draw in a range of from 50 millimeters water gauge (mmWG) to 150 mmWG. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the resistance-to-draw is in a range of from 75 mmWG to 110 mmWG. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cartridge including the first housing and the second housing.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the cartridge is replaceable. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing is replaceable. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing is configured to be removably coupled to the second housing. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the third housing is configured to be removably coupled to at least the first housing. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing is configured to be removably coupled to the second housing by a snap-fit, an interference fit, a threaded connection, or a bayonet connection. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fourth housing configured to be removably coupled to the second housing.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fourth housing including a power supply configured to supply power to the heating element. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the fourth housing is configured to be removably coupled to the second housing by a threaded engagement, a snap-fit engagement, an interference-fit engagement, a magnetic engagement, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more detents extending from an exterior surface of the first housing.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more detents define one or more air flow channels of the air flow path. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol generating substrate comprises a liquid. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second housing further comprises:
 a liquid transfer element configured to be in fluid communication with the storage portion.