Cartridge with airflow directing element

Abstract

A cartridge for an aerosol-generating device is provided, the cartridge including: a liquid storage portion configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; an inner airflow path extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the cartridge; and a tubular internal component circumscribing at least a portion of the inner airflow path, the tubular internal component including a tubular heater component including a susceptor element arranged in the inner airflow path, the tubular internal component further including a distal airflow management component including an airflow directing element arranged in the inner airflow path, the airflow directing element being configured for directing an airflow over a surface of the susceptor element, and the distal airflow management component including at least one air inlet, the at least one air inlet being configured for providing air towards the airflow directing element.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A cartridge for an aerosol-generating device, the cartridge comprising:
 a liquid storage portion configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;   an inner airflow path extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the cartridge; and   a tubular internal unit circumscribing at least a portion of the inner airflow path,   wherein the tubular internal unit comprises a tubular heater component comprising a susceptor element arranged in the inner airflow path,   wherein the tubular internal unit further comprises a distal airflow management component comprising an airflow directing element arranged in the inner airflow path,   wherein the airflow directing element is configured for directing an airflow over a surface of the susceptor element, and   wherein the distal airflow management component comprises at least one air inlet, the at least one air inlet being configured for providing air towards the airflow directing element.   
     
     
         17 . The cartridge according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the distal airflow management component further comprises a tubular sidewall circumscribing the inner airflow path, and   wherein the airflow directing element comprises at least one partition wall element extending from the tubular sidewall into the inner airflow path.   
     
     
         18 . The cartridge according to  claim 17 , wherein the airflow directing element further comprises a first partition wall element extending from the tubular sidewall into the inner airflow path and an opposing second partition wall element extending from the tubular sidewall into the inner airflow path. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one partition wall element extends between opposing wall portions of the tubular sidewall. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the susceptor element comprises at least one first planar surface, and   wherein the airflow directing element is configured for directing the airflow over the at least one first planar surface.   
     
     
         21 . The cartridge according to  claim 20 , wherein the susceptor element further comprises a second planar surface and the airflow directing element is further configured for directing the airflow over the second planar surface. 
     
     
         22 . The cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the susceptor element comprises one or more of a metal, an alloy, a susceptive wick element comprising susceptor particles interspersed within the wick element, and an electrically conductive ceramic. 
     
     
         23 . The cartridge according to  claim 22 , wherein a fluid-permeable wall portion is formed by two slits in opposing sidewalls of the tubular heater component. 
     
     
         24 . The cartridge according to  claim 23 , wherein the susceptive wick element is in direct contact with the susceptor element and extends transversally through the inner airflow path and protrudes from the inner airflow path through the slits into the liquid supply channel. 
     
     
         25 . The cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the distal airflow management component further comprises at least two air inlets. 
     
     
         26 . The cartridge according to  claim 25 ,
 wherein the distal airflow management component further comprises a tubular sidewall circumscribing the inner airflow path, and   wherein the at least one air inlet is located in the tubular sidewall.   
     
     
         27 . The cartridge according to  claim 26 , wherein at least two air inlets are located in the tubular sidewall. 
     
     
         28 . The cartridge according to  claim 26 , wherein at least two air inlets are located in the tubular sidewall, the at least two air inlets being located at opposing areas of the tubular sidewall. 
     
     
         29 . The cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the distal airflow management component and the tubular heater component are configured as separate structural components connected along a longitudinal axis of the tubular internal unit. 
     
     
         30 . The cartridge according to  claim 29 , wherein the distal airflow management component is connected to the tubular heater component via a plug connection. 
     
     
         31 . The cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein a proximal end portion of the cartridge is configured as a mouthpiece. 
     
     
         32 . The cartridge according to  claim 31 , wherein the liquid storage portion is at least partly comprised in the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         33 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 the cartridge according to  claim 16 ; and   an aerosol-generating device comprising a cavity arranged for receiving at least a distal portion of the cartridge,   wherein the cavity is at least partly circumscribed by an inductor coil.   
     
     
         34 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 33 , wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a pin element protruding from a distal end face of the cavity and being arranged to push against the distal airflow management component, when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity.