HK1089339A - Flow distributor of an electrically heated cigarette smoking system - Google Patents

Description

Flow distributor for electrically heated smoking system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a heater for use in an electrically heated smoking system.

Background

Previously known conventional lit cigarettes deliver flavor to the user through the burning of tobacco. A large amount of combustible material, primarily tobacco, is oxidized as a result of being provided with heat having a typical combustion temperature, which in a conventional cigarette when smoked exceeds 800 degrees celsius.

Lit-end cigarettes have some perceived drawbacks associated with them. During smoldering between puffs, sidestream smoke is generated between them, which may be undesirable for some non-smokers. In addition, once lit, lit-end cigarettes must be completely consumed or discarded. Relighting an lit-end cigarette is possible, but is generally undesirable for subjective reasons associated with flavor, taste and odor.

Electrical smoking systems including electric lighters and specially designed cigarettes suitable for incorporation with lighters are disclosed in several commonly assigned U.S. patents, including U.S. patents 5591368, 5878752, 5093894, 5225498, 5060671, 5095921, 5388594, and 5499636, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment of U.S. patent 5878752, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, a smoking system 21 includes a cylindrical cigarette 23 and a reusable hand lighter 25. The cigarette 23 may be inserted into and removed from the aperture 27 of the front end 29 of the lighter 25. The cigarette 23 is discarded after one or more puff cycles. The lighter 25 is preferably thrown away after more puff cycles than the cigarette 23. The lighter 25 includes a housing 31 and has front and rear portions 33 and 35. A power source 37 for providing power to the heater element 120 for heating the cigarette 23 is preferably disposed in the rear portion 35 of the lighter 25. Rear portion 35 is preferably easily openable and closable, for example, with threaded or spring-loaded elements to facilitate replacement of power source 37. The front portion 33 preferably houses heater elements and circuitry that are electrically connected to a power source 37 in the rear portion 35. The housing 31 is preferably adapted to be comfortably held in a smoker's hand, and in a presently preferred embodiment has overall dimensions of about 10.7cm by 3.8cm by 1.5 cm. The power source is sized to provide sufficient power to heat the heater elements of the cigarette 23. The power source 37 is preferably replaceable and rechargeable and may include devices such as capacitors, or more preferably batteries. A substantially cylindrical heater fixture 39 is preferably provided at the front 33 of the lighter for heating the cigarette 23 and preferably for holding the cigarette in place relative to the lighter 25, and an electrical control circuit 41 is provided for delivering a predetermined amount of energy from the power source 37 to the cigarette heater elements 120 of the heater fixture 39.

A plurality of metal heaters 120 are arranged to slidably receive the tobacco rod portion of a cigarette. One of the many advantages of such a smoking system is the reusability of the lighter for multiple cigarettes. In the heater fixture disclosed in us patent 5878752 and shown in figures 1 and 2, a cigarette will be inserted through a tapered opening on the right in figure 2 into a substantially cylindrical space of the cigarette heater fixture defined by an annular cap 83 having an open end for receiving a cigarette, a cylindrical air passage sleeve 87, an outer sleeve 84, a heater device comprising heater blades 120 and electrical guide pins or leads 104A and 104B. The sleeve 49 stops the cigarette in a desired position in the cigarette heater fixture so that the heater blades 120 are arranged to fit closely around the periphery of the cigarette. The heater fixture disclosed in us patent 5878752 shows an air passage sleeve 87 through which air can flow axially to reach the point where the heater blades 120 contact the cigarette. The gaps 125, 126 and 130 may provide a passage for air drawn into contact with an inserted cigarette.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments according to the present invention provide a good improvement in airflow distribution for heater blades of an electrical smoking system, which results in an increase in the overall aerosol delivery of the system.

In a modification of the heater disclosed in us patent 5878752, the airflow passage sleeve 87 may be eliminated and air introduced to the heater blades through radial holes in the sleeve 200. After passing through one or more openings in the housing 31 of the lighter 25, the air may reach the exterior of the sleeve 200. Although not shown in fig. 1, these openings are typically provided through housing 31 at front 33 of lighter 25. It has been discussed that side holes through the sleeve surrounding the heater blades may result in directing the airflow to a restricted area of the heater. Restricted air flow to the heater blades and the cigarette, pyrolysis of the cigarette is also restricted, and the total particulate matter produced in the aerosol produced is restricted. Thus, restricting air flow to the heater blades may result in the heater failing to generate sufficient aerosol to provide the desired flavor and odor to the smoker.

A heater fixture for a smoking system having a power source for heating a cigarette according to an embodiment of the invention comprises an inner wall having at least one opening through the wall extending from an outer peripheral surface to an inner surface of the wall, and at least one flow distributing element located within the at least one opening and extending inwardly from the inner surface. The at least one flow distributing element includes a plurality of openings in fluid communication with the interior of the heater fixture. A plurality of heater elements are disposed within the heater fixture within the inner wall and are tightly secured around the periphery of a cigarette inserted in the heater fixture. The openings from the flow distributing elements to the interior of the heater fixture project radially outwardly from the central axis of each flow distributing element and ensure that the air flows mix within the heater fixture when air is introduced from the flow distributing elements through the apertures in different directions.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electric lighter.

Figure 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of a heater fixture surrounded by an inner sleeve or sleeve and associated heater element.

Fig. 3A shows a side cross-sectional view through a flow distributing element according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a flow distributing element according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along the direction of arrows A-A in FIG. 3A.

Figure 4 shows an inner sleeve or sleeve of a heater in an electrically heated smoking system and having holes through both sides of the sleeve to provide airflow into the heater.

Fig. 5 and the enlarged view in fig. 5A show the inner sleeve of fig. 2 modified to include two flow distributing elements according to an embodiment of the invention, which are arranged through the side holes.

FIG. 6 shows a side cross-sectional view of an inner sleeve of a heater having a flow distributing element according to an embodiment of the invention and an outer sleeve having openings disposed radially outward from the flow distributing element.

Detailed Description

A heater fixture for an electrical smoking system with improved airflow is described below. Electrically heated smoking systems are described in more detail in U.S. patents 5388594 and 5878752 and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The holder used in the electrically heated smoking system described in the aforementioned patent is shown in figures 1 and 2 of the present application. A specially designed cigarette may be inserted into the aperture 27 at the front end of the heater fixture 39 and removed from the aperture 27. The heater fixture 39 is preferably substantially cylindrical and holds the cigarette in place relative to the electrically heated cigarette smoking system that supports the heater fixture. As shown in fig. 2, electrical control circuitry may also be provided within the electrically heated cigarette smoking system for delivering a predetermined amount of energy from the power source to the cigarette heater elements 120. A generally circular terminal end hub 110 is secured, e.g., welded, to the interior of the cigarette heater fixture 39, e.g., to a bushing 49, as shown in fig. 2.

The heater fixture 39 includes a plurality of radially spaced heater blades 120 supported to extend from the hub 110, as shown in FIG. 2. The heater blades 120 are individually powered by a power source under the control of an electrical circuit (not shown).

The heater element 120 may include any suitable heater element for heating tobacco to emit tobacco flavor. For example, the heating system may include any of the resistive and inductive heating systems disclosed in the aforementioned referenced patents.

The cigarette is inserted in the aperture 27 of the heater fixture 39 and into the substantially cylindrical space of the heater fixture 39, which space is defined by an annular cap 83 having an open end for receiving the cigarette and a cylindrical sleeve 87, the cylindrical sleeve 87 being as shown in fig. 1, except that the axial air passage shown in fig. 1 is no longer provided in the embodiment according to the invention. The heater fixture 39 may also include an outer surface or sleeve that preferably also forms the outer housing 31 of the lighter 25, the heater device including heater blades 120, electrically conductive pins or common leads 104A, 104B that serve as common leads for the heater elements of the heater device, and a bushing 49 to which the terminal hub 110 is secured.

As shown in fig. 5, the heater fixture 39 according to an embodiment of the invention includes an inner cylindrical sleeve or barrel 200 concentrically surrounding the heater blades 120, which is provided with openings through which the flow distributing elements 20 are inserted, as shown more clearly in fig. 5A. As shown in FIG. 6, the inner sleeve or casing 200 is concentrically surrounded by an outer sleeve or casing which is also provided with openings 302 and 304 which are preferably disposed approximately radially outwardly from the openings in the inner sleeve or casing 200. The outer sleeve or sleeve 300 preferably forms the exterior of the lighter 25, or housing 31 shown in fig. 1.

It has been found that a predominantly lateral or radial flow of air relative to the inserted cigarette produces a more desirable aerosol flow radially inwardly from the cigarette heater blades. The flow distributing element 20 inserted through a side hole in the inner sleeve 200 is shown in figures 5, 5A and 6 and in detail in figures 3A and 3B, said flow distributing element 20 helping to ensure that the airflow entering the inner sleeve 200 is evenly distributed among the heater blades inside the inner sleeve 200.

As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the flow distributor 20 is a generally hollow closed-end cylinder having 4 holes through a surrounding wall 20c near the closed end of the cylinder. The holes 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d may pass through the surrounding wall 20c of the flow distributing element near the closed end 20a of the flow distributing element 20 and be evenly distributed around the circumference of the flow distributing element. In the embodiment shown in fig. 3B, the apertures are located 90 degrees apart, but other alternatives are possible and contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 5 and 5A, two flow distributing elements project through the side walls of the inner sleeve or sleeve 200, are spaced 180 degrees apart from each other, and extend radially inward toward the interior of the heater fixture. The openings 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d are located inside the inner sleeve 200 so that the gas flow through the flow distributing element 20 is more evenly distributed inside the heater fixture 39. The openings shown in fig. 3B force the air to be directed in four different directions as it exits from the flow distributing element 20 into the interior of the inner sleeve 200.

The outer sleeve or sleeve 300 preferably forms the outer housing of the lighter concentrically surrounding the inner sleeve 200 and is provided with openings 302, 304 which are preferably radially outward through the inner sleeve 200 from the location of the flow distributing element 20. When a smoker draws on a cigarette inserted in the heater fixture 39, ambient air on the exterior of the outer sleeve 300 enters through the openings 302, 304 and is directed into the flow distributing element 20. The outer sleeve or sleeve 300 preferably forms the outer housing of the lighter that houses the heater fixture 39 such that the openings 302, 304 are open to the outside ambient air.

The improved air flow created by the air entering the space around the heater blades 120 after being distributed through the channels of the flow distributing element 20 increases the overall delivery of aerosol generated by heating a cigarette inserted within the heater blades 120. The improvement in the delivery of the total particulate matter produced by heating tobacco adjacent the heater blades 120 was measured to be approximately 10% more than the total particulate matter delivered by the heater fixture with the advantage of having no flow distributing elements 20 to better distribute the airflow to the heater blades 120 and their surroundings.

Many modifications, substitutions, and improvements will now become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined herein and in the following claims. In particular, the number of openings through the flow distributing element is not limited to 4 and the openings may not be distributed at 90 degrees at circumferential positions around the distributing element. Furthermore, although two flow distributing elements 20 are shown at about 180 degrees from each other through the wall of the inner sleeve 200, the number of flow distributing elements and their position through the inner sleeve or sleeve 200 can vary.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may thus be obtained without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (18)

1. A heater fixture for an electrical smoking system, the heater fixture comprising:

an inner wall having at least one opening therethrough extending from an outer peripheral surface to an inner surface of the inner wall;

at least one flow distributing element positioned within the at least one opening and projecting inwardly from the inner surface, the flow distributing element having a plurality of openings in fluid communication with the interior of the heater fixture; and

a plurality of heater elements arranged inside the heater fixture in the inner wall.

2. The heater fixture according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall is cylindrical and the two flow distributing elements extend through the inner wall about 180 degrees apart from each other.

3. The heater fixture according to claim 2, wherein each of said flow distributing elements extends into said interior of said heater along an axis approximately perpendicular to a central axis of said heater, and said openings in each of said flow distributing elements extend radially outwardly from said axis of each of said flow distributing elements.

4. The heater fixture according to claim 3, wherein each of said flow distributing elements has four of said openings extending radially outwardly from the axis of the flow distributing element.

5. The heater fixture according to claim 4, wherein two of the openings in each flow distributing element extend in a direction approximately parallel to a central axis of the heater fixture, and two of the openings in each flow distributing element extend in a direction approximately perpendicular to the central axis of the heater fixture.

6. The heater fixture according to claim 1, further comprising a peripheral wall surrounding the inner peripheral wall.

7. The heater fixture according to claim 6, wherein the peripheral wall is provided with at least one through hole.

8. The heater fixture according to claim 7, wherein the peripheral wall is a generally cylindrical wall surrounding the inner wall, and wherein one of said at least one through-hole is disposed approximately radially outwardly from each of said at least one flow distributing element.

9. The heater fixture according to claim 8, wherein air flow passes through each of said through holes in said peripheral wall and into each of said flow distributing elements for distribution to said heater elements through said openings in said flow distributing elements.

10. The heater fixture according to claim 9, wherein the inner wall is cylindrical and the two flow distributing elements extend through the inner wall about 180 degrees apart from each other.

11. The heater fixture according to claim 10, wherein each of said flow distributing elements extends into said interior of said heater fixture along an axis approximately perpendicular to a central axis of said heater fixture, and said openings in each of said flow distributing elements extend radially outwardly from said axis of each of said flow distributing elements.

12. The heater fixture according to claim 11, wherein each of said flow distributing elements has four of said openings extending radially outwardly from an axis of the flow distributing element.

13. The heater fixture according to claim 12, wherein two of the openings in each flow distributing element extend in a direction approximately parallel to a central axis of the heater fixture, and two of the openings in each flow distributing element extend in a direction approximately perpendicular to the central axis of the heater fixture.

14. A method of operating an electrically heated smoking system, comprising:

establishing operative contact between the heater blades and the cigarette;

directing an air flow adjacent to the heater blades by causing the air flow to flow in different directions relative to an inserted cigarette before the air is drawn through the cigarette;

establishing effective contact between a heater blade in an electric heater smoking system and a cigarette; and

the air flow is directed in a plurality of directions adjacent to the cigarette in operative contact.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the air flow passes through at least one air flow distribution element having an opening in fluid communication with a space around the heater blade inside the heater.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the openings in the at least one air flow distribution element direct air flow in at least opposite directions.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the openings direct the air flow in four different directions.

18. A smoking system comprising a lighter and a cigarette, the lighter comprising a heater fixture according to any one of claims 1-13.