RU2823669C2 - Tobacco heating device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: heating.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to flameless heating devices. Device includes a unit containing consumables, a susceptor inside the unit containing consumables; in which the consumable is compressed around the susceptor, a casing in which the unit containing the consumables is placed, and the susceptor, wherein the casing has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the casing has an opening and several casings and an induction heating element configured and programmed to selectively heat each casing a predetermined number of times at a predetermined temperature selected by the user, wherein that preset temperature is sufficient for release of aerosol from unit containing consumables and corresponding heated jacket.

EFFECT: enabling the user to adjust the temperature at which the tobacco will be heated by an inductive method, thereby reducing the risk of ignition even at a temperature sufficient for ignition.

46 cl, 72 dwg

Description

AREA OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] The present invention relates to devices used as an alternative to conventional smoking articles, such as electronic cigarettes, vaping equipment and, in particular, flameless heating devices.

LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY

[0002] Heatless tobacco devices (HNB) heat tobacco to a temperature below that which will cause combustion, thereby creating an inhalable aerosol containing nicotine and other tobacco constituents, which are then available to the user of the device. Unlike traditional cigarettes, the goal is not to ignite the tobacco, but to heat the tobacco sufficiently to cause the nicotine and other tobacco constituents to be released through aerosol formation. Ignition and combustion of a cigarette produces unwanted toxins, which can be avoided by using a HNB device. However, there is an optimal balance that allows for sufficient heat to be provided to effectively release the tobacco constituents in aerosol form without burning or igniting the tobacco. Current HNB devices do not achieve this optimal balance - either the tobacco is heated to a temperature that does not produce enough aerosol, or the tobacco is overheated, causing an unpleasant or "burnt" taste. In addition, under current operating conditions, the internal components of a traditional HNB device become contaminated with by-products of tobacco combustion, as well as by-products of secondary combustion processes.

[0003] For the above reasons, there is a need for an aerosol producing device in which the user has the ability to regulate the temperature at which tobacco will be heated by induction in order to reduce the risk of ignition even at temperatures that would otherwise be sufficient for ignition, while increasing the efficiency and improving the taste of the resulting aerosol.

RESUME

[0004] The subject of the present invention is a set of technical means and a method by which a tobacco-containing consumable element is quickly and gradually heated by induction, due to which an aerosol is formed that contains some of its components, but does not contain by-products, mainly associated with combustion, such as smoke, ash, resin and some other potentially harmful chemicals. This invention includes the formation of heat and its gradual movement along the tobacco-containing consumable component using an induction heating element that creates an alternating electromagnetic field around this component.

[0005] The object of the present invention is a device in which an induction heating source is provided, which is used to heat a tobacco-containing consumable element.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is a tobacco-containing consumable element consisting of several separate hermetically sealed capsules with a special coating, which contain a consumable tobacco preparation, as well as an induction heating source. The capsule can be an aluminum container with pre-made holes. The capsules can be coated with a gel that seals the holes until the moment when the induction heating process melts the gel, thereby opening the holes. In some embodiments of the invention, the gel can contain a flavoring additive that imparts flavor to the tobacco aerosol or enhances its flavor.

[0007] In some embodiments of the invention, several capsules are placed inside a paper tube with spaces between them formed by a protruding aluminum wrapper at the lower end of each capsule, and channels on each side for the passage of the formed aerosol. When the inductive heating source is activated, the holes in the capsule open, and the flavoring agent of the gel coating combines with the aerosol, together with which they pass through the tube and become available to the user of the device.

[0008] By means of these processes and technical means, the device should heat the smallest possible amount of material, heat up instantly, cool down quickly and save battery power, which will allow it to be used most productively between charges. This is how it differs from existing widely known devices for flameless heating, which are freely available.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is a tobacco-containing consumable element consisting of several individual hermetically sealed capsules with a special coating, as well as an induction heating source. The capsules are covered with a gel that seals the openings until the induction heating process melts the gel, thereby opening the openings. In some embodiments of the invention, the gel may contain a flavoring additive that imparts flavor to the tobacco aerosol or enhances its flavor.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container containing consumables that is easily replaced and minimizes contamination of the interior of the housing during use in order to reduce the effort of cleaning the housing.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to move the heating element relative to the susceptor or consumable to heat portions of the consumable independently of other portions.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to maximize the energy efficiency of the aerosol generating device.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to control the heating of the heating element in order to maximize the service life of the device.

[0014] Another goal is to provide the ability to regulate the air flow through the device in order to change the flavor or dosage of the consumable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] Fig. 1 shows a side view of the interior of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Fig. 2A is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present invention with portions removed to show a view from the inside of the embodiment.

[0017] Fig. 2B is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention with some portions cut away and/or removed to show internal components.

[0018] Fig. 2C shows a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2A along line 2C-2C.

[0019] Fig. 2D is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2A.

[0020] Fig. 2E is an isometric view of another embodiment of the present invention with some portions cut away and/or removed to show internal components.

[0021] Fig. 3A shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Fig. 3B shows the embodiment shown in Fig. 3A in a partially disassembled form.

[0023] Fig. 3C is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3A with some portions cut away and/or removed to show internal components.

[0024] Fig. 3D is a close-up isometric view of the assembly unit of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3A containing consumables.

[0025] Fig. 4A and 4B show an assembly unit containing consumables with a spatial separation of the parts.

[0026] Fig. 5A shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Fig. 5B shows a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5A along line 5B-5B.

[0028] Fig. 5C is an isometric view of an assembly of units containing consumables of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5A.

[0029] Fig. 6A shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Fig. 6B is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6A.

[0031] Figs. 7A and 7B show isometric views of other embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] Fig. 8A shows a side view of one embodiment of a heating element.

[0033] Fig. 8B is a front view of the heating element shown in Fig. 7A.

[0034] Fig. 7C shows another embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Fig. 7D is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7C.

[0036] Fig. 9A shows a side view of one embodiment of the device for producing an aerosol.

[0037] Fig. 9B is a top view of the aerosol generating device shown in Fig. 8A.

[0038] Fig. 9C shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the controller and its connection to other components of the present invention.

[0039] Fig. 10A-10B show schematic diagrams of embodiments of the controller and its connection to other components of the present invention.

[0040] Fig. 11 shows an isometric view of one embodiment of a movable heating element.

[0041] Figs. 12A-12D show exploded views, cross-sectional views, and isometric views of one embodiment of the present invention using a magnet for positioning.

[0042] Fig. 12E shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the positioning mechanism.

[0043] Figs. 13A-13B show isometric views of the multi-toothed susceptor.

[0044] Fig. 13C-D are cross-sectional side views of the embodiments of the invention shown in Fig. 13A and 13B, respectively, in section along the longitudinal axis, showing the multi-pronged susceptor removed and inserted into a container containing consumables.

[0045] Figs. 14A-14C show end views of one embodiment of a container containing consumables with a heating element rotating around the container containing consumables.

[0046] Figs. 15A-15C show end views of one embodiment of a container containing consumables with another three-pronged susceptor and a heating element rotating around the container containing consumables.

[0047] Figs. 16A-16D show end views of one embodiment of a container containing consumables with a four-pronged susceptor and a heating element rotating around the container containing consumables.

[0048] Fig. 17A-17B show isometric views of one embodiment of a mechanism for rotating a heating element along an eccentric trajectory around a container containing consumables.

[0049] Fig. 18A-18B show end views of the embodiment of the mechanism for rotating a heating element along an eccentric path around a container containing consumables shown in Fig. 17A-17B.

[0050] Fig. 19 shows an isometric view of one embodiment of a mechanism for rotating a heating element along an eccentric trajectory and moving it along a container containing consumables.

[0051] Fig. 20 shows an isometric view of one embodiment of a mechanism for moving a heating element relative to a container containing consumables.

[0052] Fig. 21 shows a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the controller and its connections to other components of the present invention.

[0053] Fig. 22 shows one embodiment of a radiator attached to a heating element, with some portions of the radiator removed to show the heating element.

[0054] Fig. 23 shows a sectional view of an air flow regulator attached to a container containing consumables.

[0055] Fig. 24A is an exploded isometric view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Fig. 24B is an end view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 24A.

[0057] Fig. 24C is a sectional view taken along line 24C-24C of Fig. 24B.

[0058] Fig. 25A-B are partial sectional views of a container containing consumables in an isometric view with a susceptor removed to show the interior of a container containing consumables in which a susceptor with hollow teeth is used.

[0059] Fig. 25C-D are partial sectional views of the embodiments of the invention shown in Fig. 25A-B, respectively, with a hollow susceptor integrated into a container containing consumables.

[0060] Fig. 25E shows a cross-section of the embodiment shown in Figs. 25A-D, cut along its longitudinal axis to demonstrate air flow during operation.

[0061] Fig. 26A shows an isometric view of another embodiment of a container containing consumables before the susceptor is inserted.

[0062] Fig. 26B-C are partial sectional views of the embodiment shown in Fig. 26A to illustrate the relationship of the internal components prior to insertion of the susceptor.

[0063] Fig. 26D shows a cross-section of the embodiment of the container containing consumables shown in Figs. 26A-C, in section along its longitudinal axis.

[0064] Fig. 26E is a partial sectional view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 26A after insertion of the susceptor.

[0065] Fig. 26F is a partial sectional view of Fig. 26E with a heating element wrapped around a container containing consumables.

[0066] Fig. 26G shows a cross-section of the embodiment of the container containing consumables shown in Fig. 26F, in section along its longitudinal axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0067] The following detailed description, together with the accompanying drawings, is given as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention can be made or used. The description sets forth the functions and sequence of steps for making and operating the invention in conjunction with the illustrated embodiments. However, it should be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences of steps can be implemented in various embodiments of the invention, which are also intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0068] The invention of the present application is a device for producing aerosols for inhalation from a product containing consumables by a method that employs a relatively high temperature with minimal combustion of the product containing the consumables. For the purposes of the present application, the term "consumables" shall be interpreted in a broad sense to cover any type of pharmaceutical, drug, chemical compound, active additive, component of a mixture, etc., regardless of whether these consumables are used to treat any disorder or disease, for nutrition, are a supplement, or are used to restore the body's resources. Consumables may include pharmaceuticals, food additives, over-the-counter drugs, tobacco, cannabis, etc., by way of example only.

[0069] As shown in Fig. 1, the device 100 includes a container containing consumables - 102, and an aerosol generating device - 200. The device 100 produces aerosols by flameless heat generation, where the segment containing consumables 104 is heated to a temperature at which the consumables in the block 104 do not burn, but are released as an aerosol product that can be inhaled. Thus, the segment containing consumables 104 is any article containing consumables that can be released as an aerosol when heated to an appropriate temperature. In the present application, the use of the present invention for the use of tobacco products is considered in order to provide a specific example. However, the present invention is not limited to use together with tobacco products.

[0070] Container containing consumables

[0071] As shown in Fig. 2A-6B, the container containing the consumables 102 is a member that is heated to release the consumables in the form of an aerosol. The container containing the consumables 102 includes a segment containing the consumables 104, a metal member (also called a susceptor) 106 for heating the segment containing the consumables 104 using an inductive heating system, and a housing 108 that contains the block 104 and the susceptor 106. The heating rate of the container 102 containing the consumables depends on the consistency of the product. The consistency of the product depends on various factors such as the position, shape, orientation, composition and other characteristics of the block 104 containing the consumables. Other characteristics of the block 104 containing the consumables may include the amount of oxygen contained in the block. The goal is to optimize product consistency as much as possible by ensuring that each of these factors meets the required parameters during the production process.

[0072] When the block 104 containing the consumables is in direct physical contact with the susceptor 106 with a maximum contact area, most of the thermal energy generated in the susceptor 106 will be transferred to the block 104. In this case, the shape and location of the block 104, relative to the susceptor 106, is an important factor. In some embodiments of the invention, the block 104 containing the consumables typically has a cylindrical shape. In such a case, the block 104 may have a round or oval cross-section.

[0073] In addition, another goal pursued in the design of the block 104 containing consumables is to minimize the amount of air with which the block 104 is in contact. This eliminates or reduces the risk of oxidation or combustion during storage and during the heating process. As a result, under certain settings, it becomes possible to heat the block 104 containing consumables to temperatures that could otherwise cause ignition in the case of using the devices mentioned in the section "Background of the art", in which a higher degree of contact with air is allowed.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the block 104 containing the consumables is made of a powdered consumable material pressed into a tablet or rod shape. Pressing the consumable material reduces the oxygen content that enters the inside of the block 104. In some embodiments of the invention, the block 104 may further comprise an additive such as a humectant, a fragrance, an oxygen-displacing filler, or a vapor-generating substance, etc. The additive may further assist in absorbing and transferring thermal energy and removing oxygen from the block 104. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the consumable material may be mixed with a substance that does not affect the operation of the device, but displaces air in the interstitial spaces of the consumable material and/or coats the consumable material to isolate it from air. In another alternative embodiment of the invention, the consumable material may be formed into small granules or other shapes that may be encapsulated to further reduce the amount of air coming into contact with the consumable material.

[0075] As shown in Fig. 2A-2D, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the block 104 containing consumables may be a single elongated segment having a longitudinal axis L. For example, the block 104 may be an elongated cylinder or a tube with a circular or oval cross-section. In this case, the block 104 containing consumables will be limited by two opposite ends 105, 107 and a side wall 109 between them, extending from the first end 105 to the second end 107, defining the length of the block 104 containing consumables.

[0076] The susceptor 106 may be similarly extended and incorporated into the block 104 containing the consumables, preferably along the longitudinal axis L, essentially increasing the length and width (i.e., the diameter) of the block 104. For the block 104 having an oval cross-section, the diameter refers to the major diameter defining the long axis of the oval.

[0077] The susceptor 106 may be machine extruded. After extrusion, the block 104 containing the consumables may be molded around the susceptor 106 along its length. Alternatively, the susceptor 106 may be manufactured by stamping a flat metal blank or by some other suitable manufacturing method prior to assembling the block 104 containing the consumables around the susceptor 106. In some embodiments of the invention, as shown in Fig. 2E, the susceptor 106 may be made of steel wool. For example, the susceptor 106 may consist of thin strands of steel wool bonded together in the form of a gasket. In this case, the gasket of steel wool has a plurality of thin edges. In some embodiments of the invention, an additive such as a humectant, a flavoring agent, a vaporizing agent, a substance that inhibits oxidation of steel wool (rust) and/or a filler for removing air between the strands of steel wool, etc. is applied, poured or infused onto the steel wool pad. As shown in Fig. 2E, cutouts may be provided along the steel wool pad to divide the block 104 containing the consumables into separate segments for separate heating, as described below. Alternatively, separate steel wool pads may be used, separated from each other spatially and/or by the consumable material so that each pad is heated separately during use.

[0078] The advantages of steel wool include (but are not limited to): it is easy to dispose of in an environmentally friendly manner, as it begins to oxidize soon after heating, making it brittle and easily decomposable without dangerous sharp edges. Being composed of iron and carbon, it is relatively non-toxic.

[0079] The susceptor 106 may be made of any metal-based material that generates heat when exposed to alternating magnetic fields, as in the case of induction heating. Preferably, it contains ferrous metal. In order to maximize the heating efficiency of the block 104 containing the consumables, the width of the susceptor 106 typically corresponds to the largest cross-sectional axis of the block 104 in order to achieve the largest contact area of the block 104 with the susceptor 106, but other configurations may also be used. In those embodiments of the invention in which the block 104 containing the consumables is an elongated cylinder, the largest cross-sectional area is determined by multiplying the axes of the cross-section of the cylinder by each other along the longitudinal axis L, with the construction of a conditional rectangle. In this case, the susceptor 106 should also have a rectangular cross-section with dimensions corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical shape of the block 104.

[0080] In some embodiments of the invention, the susceptor 106 may be a metal plate with a large number of slots 110, resembling a grid. Inductive heating occurs most quickly and efficiently at the edges of the susceptor 106. Due to the grid shape, the susceptor 106 has many edges that can contact the block 104 containing consumables, since edges are around each of the slots 110.

[0081] In a preferred embodiment, the susceptor 106 is an elongated plate on which, along the entire length of the plate, a group of small-sized slits 110 made to increase the number of edges, which serve to increase the efficiency of the inductive heating process, alternate with larger-sized slits 112, which serve to prevent or at least reduce the transfer of heat to adjacent segments of the susceptor 106. Such a configuration allows for heating of the container 102 containing consumables in individual segments. The extended version of the susceptor 106 may be an elongated metal plate on which there are groups of slots 110a, 110b and a row of slots 112a, 112b, wherein the groups of slots 110a, 110b alternate successively with individual slots 112a, 112b along the entire length of the metal plate in such a way that the group of slots 110a, 110b is followed by slots 112a, 112b. Thus, from one end of the susceptor 106 to the other, the following are located one after another: the first group of slots 110a, followed by the first slot 112a, then the second group of slots 110b, followed by the second slot 112b, and so on. In the areas with slots 112, the amount of metal is minimal, therefore heat transfer occurs to a minimal degree. Thus, even though the block 104 containing the consumables is a single element, it can nevertheless be heated in separate areas. The block 104 containing the consumables and the susceptor 106 are placed in the casing 108.

[0082] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing 108 may be made of aluminum with pre-made holes 120. The consumable-containing block 104 is placed inside the housing 108 to retain the heat generated by the susceptor 106. The holes 120 in the housing 108 allow the consumable aerosol to escape when heated. Since the holes 120 create a channel through which air can penetrate into the housing 108 and contact the consumable-containing block 104, the holes 120 can be temporarily closed with a special coating. Such a coating is preferably made of a composition that melts at the temperatures generated by the consumable aerosols. Therefore, when the susceptor 106 is heated, due to the absence of air inside the housing 108, the consumable-containing block 104 can be heated to extremely high temperatures without igniting. When the susceptor 106 is heated to a high temperature, the consumable aerosol that begins to form cannot initially escape. As soon as the coating of the housing 108 begins to melt, the openings 120 open and the consumable aerosol can exit the housing 108 for inhalation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this coating can be a propylene glycol alginate (PGA) gel. The coating can also contain a flavoring agent. Thus, when the coating begins to melt and the consumable aerosol is released, the flavoring agent is also released along with the aerosol. In some embodiments of the invention, the flavoring agent can be mixed with an additive.

[0083] In some embodiments of the invention, the openings 120 may be a plurality of openings or slits. These openings 120 may be located along the length of the side wall 122 of the housing 108, radially around the side wall 122, randomly or uniformly across the entire surface of the side wall 122, and the like. In some embodiments, the openings 120 may be a plurality of openings along opposite ends 124, 126 of the housing 108. In some embodiments with an elongated block 104 containing consumables, the housing 108 may also be of an elongated shape with openings 120 in the form of one or more slits of an elongated shape located along the length of the housing parallel to the longitudinal axis L, as if forming a seam. Such a seam may be curved or there may be several of them, but together they form a channel through which the consumed aerosol may pass, along the entire length of the casing 108, or in its individual sections. As in the case of the openings 120 described above, such a seam may be sealed with a special coating.

[0084] The container 102 containing the consumables may further have a filter tube 140 for sealing the unit 104 containing the consumables, the susceptor 106 and the housing 108. The filter tube 140 may be made of a filter material and is designed to trap any unwanted particles, while allowing the consumable aerosol, which is released when the housing 108 is heated and passes through the filter, to pass through the filter. The filter tube 140 may completely cover the housing 108, as well as the openings 120, which are covered with a special coating. Since the filter tube 140 is made of a special filter material, the consumable aerosol is able to pass through the filter tube 140. By way of example only, the filter tube may be made of cellulose or cellulose acetate, although any suitable filter material may be used.

[0085] The container 102 containing the consumables may further have a housing 150 in which the filter tube 140 is placed. The housing 150 may be a paper tube. The housing 150 is substantially impermeable to the consumable aerosols. Thus, the housing 150 wrapped around the filter tube 140 creates a longitudinal channel laid through the filter tube 140 through which the consumable aerosol passes instead of exiting the filter tube 140 in a radial direction. This allows the consumable aerosol to move along the inhalation path towards the mouth of the user of the device. One end 152 of the housing 150 may be closed with an end cap 154. The end cap 154 may consist of a filter material of a certain type. At the opposite end 156 of the housing 150 there is a mouthpiece 158, through which the user, when taking a drag, draws in the heated consumable aerosol from the housing 108 through the filter tube 140 and the mouthpiece, which is in the user's mouth. In this case, the mouthpiece 158 can also be a filter similar to the filter of the end cap 154. Moreover, the container 102 containing consumables has a channel through which the consumable aerosol passes, and this channel leads directly to the mouthpiece 158, which is also part of the container 102, and the said channel is isolated from the housing 202 in such a way that no residues or by-products formed during the operation of the device will enter the housing 202. In this configuration, the housing 202 remains clean and does not require the user to periodically clean the housing 202.

[0086] In some embodiments of the invention, the housing 108 may consist of two parts: a first half 108a and a second half 108b of the housing. The block 104 containing the consumables may be inserted into the first half 108a of the housing, and the second half 108b of the housing may be placed over the first half 108a of the housing to cover the block 104 containing the consumables. Openings 120 may be made in the housing 108 before the block 104 containing the consumables is placed inside the housing.

[0087] After determining the general principles of the structure and the principle of operation of the container 102 containing consumables, embodiments that make it possible to achieve the same goals were also considered. For example, in some embodiments of the invention, the block 104 containing consumables may consist of two parts of an elongated shape - 104a and 104b. The two parts 104a and 104b of the block 104 containing consumables may be formed by a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis L along the circumference of the diameter of the block 104 and intersecting the axis L. Therefore, the two parts 104a and 104b may be elements having the shape of a semi-cylinder, which, when connected together, form a block 104 having the shape of a whole cylinder.

[0088] In some embodiments of the invention, as shown in Figs. 3A-3D, the block 104 containing the consumables may have the form of a granule or a tablet. In contrast to the block 104, which is an elongated cylinder or tube, in which the length of the side wall 109 is much greater than the diameter, in the embodiment, where the block 104 is in the form of a tablet, it can be a short cylinder having a longitudinal axis of symmetry L, and the length of the side wall 109 is approximately equal to the diameter of the cylinder or even shorter than it. The susceptor 106 can have the shape of a flat circle in order to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the tablet when cut transversely, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The block 104 containing the consumables can be molded around the susceptor 106. To simulate the shape of a cigarette, several blocks 104 containing the consumables can be laid in a row strictly one after another in the direction of their longitudinal axes L, together forming an elongated cylinder. Due to this, each individual block 104 containing consumables can be heated separately, which successfully replaces the division of the block 104, which has the shape of an elongated tube, into segments.

[0089] Other shapes, such as square or rectangular, with the susceptor 106 having a corresponding shape, may also be used. However, a cylindrical shape is preferred due to the ease with which such a shape can be used to imitate the shape of a real cigarette.

[0090] In some embodiments of the invention, the block 104 containing consumables may consist of two parts 104a and 104b connected together to form a single whole, as shown in Figs. 4A and 4B. The two component parts 104a and 104b are formed by dividing the block 104 in half by a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry L. The susceptor 106 is placed between the two parts 104a and 104b. Two halves 104a and 104b with a susceptor 106 located between them, which together constitute a block 104 containing consumables, are placed in a casing 108. The remaining several separate blocks 104, inside which a corresponding susceptor 106 is located, and each of which is placed in a separate casing 108, are arranged in a similar manner. Several blocks 104 containing consumables are laid in a row close to each other, together forming a container 102 containing consumables, in which each separate block 104 can be heated separately one by one.

[0091] In some embodiments of the invention, the housing 108 may be made of an aluminum sheet that is wrapped around the block 104 containing the consumables. Such an aluminum housing has protruding ends 130 and 132 on opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 3D. These protruding ends 130 and 132 create a gap between adjacent blocks 104 containing the consumables when they are laid in a row next to each other.

[0092] In some embodiments of the invention, the casing 108 may consist of two parts - the first 108a and the second 108b, in the space between which the block 104 containing consumables is placed. As described above, the openings 120 in the casing 108 can be located along the side wall 122 or at the ends 124 and 126. As described above, the susceptor 106 can be made of any metal that has the ability to heat up due to the electromagnetic induction effect, including steel wool, as shown in Fig. 4B. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the extent of the edges of the susceptor 106 is significantly increased by multiple slits 110 made in the plate of the susceptor 106, or by using strands of steel wool pressed together. The strands of steel wool can be in the range from thin to medium. As stated above, the steel wool gasket can be impregnated, coated or filled with an additive, flavoring, protectant and/or filler.

[0093] In some embodiments, multiple consumable containing units 104 may be housed within a single elongated housing 108, as shown in Figs. 5A-6B. The housing 108 may be provided with compartments 111 to house each individual unit 104. In some embodiments, the individual compartments 111 may be connected to each other by a bridge 121. In some embodiments, the bridge 121 may form a channel 125 to allow fluid communication between one compartment 111 and another. In some embodiments, the bridge 121 may be sealed to prevent fluid communication between adjacent compartments 111 through the bridge 121. In some embodiments, the elongated housing 108 may be comprised of two parts separated by a plane extending along the longitudinal axis of symmetry L, as shown in Figs. 6A-6B. The blocks 104 containing the consumables can be placed in the compartments 111 of one of the halves of the casing - 108a. The second half 108b of the casing can then be connected to the first half 108a so that the blocks 104 are inside the solid casing 108. The gap between the halves 108a and 108b of the casing can be used as an outlet opening 120. Or pre-made openings 120 can be located on one or both halves 108a and 108b of the casing.

[0094] In some embodiments of the invention, as shown in Figs. 7A-7D, the housing 108 can be made of a material that allows the housing 108 to function as a susceptor. For example, the housing 108 can be made of steel or otherwise include a ferrous metal or some other metal that can be heated by induction heating. In such an embodiment, there is no need for any internal susceptor 106 to be built into the consumable-containing block 104. The housing 108 can also have a plurality of openings 120 and a coating of a chemical additive and/or a sealant, such as propylene glycol alginate (PGA). Such an embodiment can be an elongated tube, as shown in Fig. 7A, or the blocks 104 can be in the form of tablets or disks, as shown in Fig. 7B. The housing 108 can consist of two parts 108a and 108b, as discussed above.

[0095] In some embodiments of the invention, the housing 108 may have transverse slots 123 located across the body of the housing 108, generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, as shown in Figs. 7C and 7D. The slots 123 divide the housing 108 into segments so that only one small segment of the block 104 containing the consumables is heated per one activation of the device. The transverse slots 123 may be through holes through which the block 104 containing the consumables, located inside the housing 108, communicates with the external environment. In such embodiments, the segments can be filled with a special coating or some other filler that permanently closes the openings, or with a substance that melts when heated and allows the aerosol to exit through the slots 123. In some embodiments of the invention, the filler that closes the openings can be made of a material that is capable of functioning as a heat sink, and/or of a substance that inhibits induction heating in order to reduce the heating effect in the areas with transverse slots 123. In some embodiments of the invention, the transverse slot 123 can be a recessed area or a notch on the casing 108. In other words, the transverse slit 123 can be a section of the casing 108 with a thinner layer. In essence, the transverse slit 123 is an outlet opening. Such an opening may be filled with a viscous filler capable of functioning as a heat sink and/or a substance that inhibits induction heating in order to reduce heat transfer along the transverse slot 123.

[0096] Induction heating

[0097] Heating of the block 104 containing consumables is achieved by an induction heating process that provides contactless heating of a metal, preferably a ferrous metal, by placing the metal in an alternating magnetic field created by an induction heating element 160, as shown in Figs. 8A-8B. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the induction heating element 160 is a conductor 162 wound on a coil that creates a magnetic field when an electric current passes through it. A metal susceptor 106 is located close enough to the conductor 162 to be in the magnetic field. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coil winding is arranged such that a cavity 164 is located in the center thereof. This allows the container 102 containing consumables to be inserted into the cavity 164 such that the susceptor 106 is in the center of the coil without touching it. An alternating current passes through the coil, creating a rapidly changing magnetic field. The alternating magnetic field is capable of creating eddy currents in the susceptor 106, which can generate heat inside the susceptor 106. Thus, the container 102 containing the consumables is typically heated from the center to the periphery. In those embodiments of the invention in which the casing 108 also serves as a susceptor, the container 102 containing the consumables is heated from the periphery to the center.

[0098] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the segments of the container 102 containing the consumables are to be heated individually. In this case, the conductor 162 may also be separate groups of conductors in the form of coils 162a-f, as shown in Fig. 8A. Each of the coils 162a-f is connected to a controller 166, with which the coils 162a-f can be activated individually. Although six (6) coils 162a-f are shown in Fig. 8A, more or fewer coils can be used. In an alternative embodiment, one coil of winding 162 can be used, equipped with a mechanism that moves the coil along the container 102 containing the consumables to heat each of its segments individually.

[0099] The individual coils 162a-f spatially correspond to individual segments of the container 102 containing the consumables, as described above and shown in Figs. 3A-6B. In another embodiment, each of the coils 162a-f spatially corresponds to a specific section of the solid container 102 containing the consumables, as shown in Figs. 2A-2D, 7A and 7D to heat only that specific section. During preliminary testing of these embodiments of the invention, heating individual sections of the container 102 containing the consumables did not result in any noticeable heating of adjacent sections of the container 102 containing the consumables, since the adjacent unheated consumable material acts as an insulator. Thus, any structural features to limit heat transfer may not be necessary, although such features are discussed herein and may be useful.

[00100] The efficiency of converting electrical energy into thermal energy in the susceptor 106 is referred to herein as the "conversion efficiency" and depends on a number of factors, such as the bulk resistivity of the metal, the permittivity of the metal, the geometry of the metal, as well as thermal losses, the stability and efficiency of the power source, the geometry of the coil, losses and the overall frequency of operation - to determine some of these factors. The device 100 is designed and configured to provide maximum conversion efficiency.

[00101] Aerosol generating device

[00102] To heat the consumable material to convert it into an aerosol, the housing 150 having a filter tube 140, inside which a block 104 containing consumable materials is located, is inserted into the device 200 to create an aerosol, as shown in Figs. 9A-9C. The aerosol-producing device 200 consists of a housing 202 containing a container 102 containing consumable materials, an induction heating element 160 for heating a susceptor 106, and a controller 166 for controlling the induction heating element 160.

[00103] The housing 202 is designed to make the operation of the device ergonomic. To simplify the terminology, the housing 202 is described using terms such as front, back, sides, top and bottom. These terms are not intended to be limiting in any way, but are used to describe the location of various elements relative to each other. For the purposes of describing the present invention, the front part 210 means that part of the housing 202 that faces the user when using the device for its intended purpose, as described herein. In accordance with the intended use of the device, when the user takes the housing 202 for its intended use, his thumb rests on the front part 210 of the device 100, and the rest of the fingers rest on the back part 212.

[00104] Inside the housing 202 there is a cavity 214 (see Fig. 1) in which the components of the device 100 are located. That is, the housing 202 is designed in such a way that it accommodates most of the container 102 containing consumables, the controller 166, the induction heating element 160 and the power source 220. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at the top of the front part of the housing 202 there is an opening 216. From the opening 216 a mouthpiece 158 of the container 102 containing consumables protrudes so that the user has access to the container 102 with consumables. The mouthpiece 158 protrudes from the housing 202 to such a length that the user can wrap his lips around the mouthpiece 158 in order to take a puff of the consumable aerosol.

[00105] The housing 202 is designed for ease of use and ease of carrying. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing 202 may have the following approximate dimensions: height 85 mm (from the top 222 to the bottom 224), length 44 mm (from the front edge 210 to the back 212) and width 22 mm (from one side surface 226 to the other 228). It can be manufactured by hot pressing in order to obtain higher quality and stronger plastic parts.

[00106] In some embodiments of the invention, the container 102 containing the consumables may be secured to a special mechanism (retractor) allowing the container 102 to be removed into the housing 202 for storage and transportation. Due to the design of the container 102 containing the consumables, the housing 202 does not require a through hole for cleaning, as is provided in other devices where some combustion process still takes place, after which combustion by-products remain. In embodiments of the invention where the container 102 containing consumables has a mouthpiece 158 for the user and a filter tube 140, if any by-products are formed during operation of the device, such products remain in the disposable container 102 containing consumables, which is simply removed and disposed of when the user inserts a new container 102 with consumables into the housing 202 and, if necessary, the filter tube 140. Thus, the inside of the housing 202 remains clean during operation.

[00107] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a user interface panel 230 is provided in the upper part 222 of the housing 202. The arrangement of the user interface panel 230 in the upper part 222 of the housing 202 allows the user to easily monitor the state of the device 100 before operation. In principle, the user can view the user interface 230 even during a puff. The user interface 230 may be a multi-color LED (RGB) display for indicating the state of the device during operation. A light guide may be used to ensure a wide-angle view of the display. Solely as an example: the user interface 230 has an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display with a diagonal of 0.96 inches, a format of 128×32 and an I2C (or SPI) interface. The user interface 230 may provide a tactile feedback 234 (vibration), as well as an audio feedback 250 (piezoelectric transducer). In some embodiments of the invention, the glass of the OLED display may be protected by a screen made of transparent plastic (polycarbonate or ABS plastic) to protect it from damage/scratches.

[00108] On the back side 212 of the housing there is a trigger 232, which is a button activated by a finger (pressing) for turning on the device/starting a “puff”. Desirably, the trigger 232 is located near the top 230. With this arrangement, it will be convenient for the user, holding the housing 202 in the palm, to press the activation button 232 with the index finger. In some embodiments of the invention, a locking mechanism can be provided on the trigger 232 - a mechanical lock or an electronic lock, which requires the opening of the housing 202 before the trigger 232 is activated by electronic means. In some embodiments of the invention, a motor 234, causing vibration of the housing, can be mechanically connected to the trigger 232 to improve the recognition of tactile feedback by the user during operation. When the start button 232 is pressed, the induction heating element 160 is turned on to heat the susceptor 106.

[00109] The device 100 is powered by a battery 220. In a preferred embodiment, the battery 220 is a two-cell lithium-ion battery pack (with a series connection), a charging current of 4A, a capacity of 650-750 mAh. The two-cell pack may have a protection circuit. The battery 220 can be charged via a USB type "C" connector 236. The USB type "C" connector 236 can also be used for data transfer. The controller 166 can also provide monitoring of the voltage of the battery 238 to display the charge/discharge state of the battery.

[00110] The trigger 232 is operatively connected to the electromagnetic trigger 240 via the controller 166. The electromagnetic trigger 240 activates the induction heating element 160 to heat the susceptor 106. The present invention eliminates the motor-driven coil design of the prior art. The electromagnetic trigger 240 is capable of providing drive/multiplexing for several coils. For example, the electromagnetic trigger 240 can provide drive/multiplexing for 6 or more coils. Each coil is wound on one of the segments of the container 102 containing consumables and can be actuated at least once or more times. Therefore, for example, one segment of the container 102 containing consumables can be heated twice. From the device 100, in which there are six coils, the user can extract 12 "puffs".

[00111] The excitation circuit of the inductor coil in the preferred embodiment can be controlled directly by the microprocessor controller 166. A special peripheral device in this processor (an oscillator with digital control) allows it to generate the oscillation forms of the frequency converter with minimal processing costs for the central control processor. The inductor coil circuit can have one or more parallel-connected capacitors, forming a parallel resonant circuit.

[00112] The control circuit may include current monitoring using a "peak detector" that sends data to an analog input of the processor. The function of the peak detector is to record the maximum current value for any cycle of the excitation circuit voltage, providing a stable output voltage for conversion by an analog-to-digital converter (part of the microprocessor chip), and then used in the solenoid actuator algorithm.

[00113] The electromagnetic drive control algorithm is implemented in the embedded software of the microprocessor. The resonant frequency of the inductor and capacitors will be known with reasonable accuracy with the following design parameters:

[00114] Resonance frequency (in Hertz) = l/(2*pi*SQRT{L*C})

[00115] where: pi = 3.1415 …,

[00116] SQRT shows the square root of the contents in brackets {…},

[00117] L = the measured inductance of the inductor coil, and

[00118] C = known capacitance of parallel connected capacitors.

[00119] There are manufacturing tolerances for the values of L and C (mentioned above) that result in some variation in the actual resonant frequency compared to that calculated using the formula above. In addition, the inductance of the inductor will vary depending on what is inside the inductor. In particular, the presence of ferrous metal inside (or in close proximity to) the inductor will result in some variation in the inductance, which will result in a small variation in the resonant frequency of the LC circuit.

[00120] The inductor drive firmware algorithm will vary the operating frequency over the maximum expected frequency range while monitoring the current, determining the frequency at which the current consumption is minimal. This minimum value will be at the resonance frequency. Once this "center frequency" is found, the algorithm will continue to scan the frequency, stepping back a small amount on either side of the center frequency, and adjusting the center frequency as necessary to maintain the minimum current value.

[00121] The electronic means are connected to a controller 166. The controller 166 allows the frequency to be controlled by the processor in order to optimize the heating of the susceptor 106. The relationship between the frequency and the temperature is rarely direct, largely due to the fact that the temperature depends on the frequency, duration, and the way in which the container 102 containing the consumables is configured. The controller 166 may also provide for monitoring the current strength to determine the power transfer and monitoring the peak voltage on the inductor coil in order to establish resonance. By way of example only, the controller may provide a frequency of approximately 400 to 500 kHz, preferably 440 kHz, with a three-second preheating cycle in order to bring the temperature of the susceptor 106 to 400 degrees Celsius or higher in one second. In some embodiments of the invention, the temperature of the susceptor 106 may be increased to 550 degrees Celsius or higher in one second. In some embodiments of the invention, the temperature can be increased to 800 degrees Celsius. Thus, the present invention has an effective range of 400-800 degrees Celsius. In prior art devices, at such temperatures, the consumables ignite, which makes the prior art devices ineffective at these temperatures. In the present invention, such high temperatures can still be used to improve the efficiency of aerosol production and provide a shorter heating time.

[00122] The device 100 may also have a data communication system 242. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, low-power Bluetooth communication may be used to communicate with a peripheral device. The data communication system 242 may have a serial interface for transmitting data to the main processor, for example, for exchanging information with a telephone. A standard radio frequency module (pre-certified: FCC, IC, CE, MIC) may also be used. In one example, a Laird BL652 module is used, since SmartBasic support allows for rapid application development. The data communication system 242 allows the user to program the device 100 in accordance with personal preferences in terms of aerosol density, amount of fragrance released, etc. by controlling the frequency and a three-stage work cycle, namely: the stages of preparation for heating, heating and cooling of the induction heating elements 160. The data communication system 242 may have one or more USB ports 236.

[00123] In some embodiments of the present invention, a real-time clock/calendar (RTC) with a backup battery may be used to monitor operating information. The RTC may measure and store relevant user data that will be used in conjunction with an external application loaded onto a peripheral device, such as a smartphone.

[00124] In some embodiments of the invention, a micro-USB connector (or a USB type C connector or other suitable connector) may be located on the bottom surface of the housing 202. To reduce the load on the connector due to cable tension, additional connectors may be provided on each side of the housing.

[00125] By way of example only, the operation of the device 100 may be performed as follows: The power of the device may be turned on by briefly pressing the power button 232. For example, a short press of the power button (less than 1.5 seconds) may turn on the device 100, but will not start a heating cycle. A second short press of the power button 232 (less than 1 second) during this time will keep the device 100 on for a longer period of time and start Bluetooth advertising if there is currently no active (connected) Bluetooth connection with the phone. A longer press of the power button 232 (longer than 1.5 seconds) starts a heating cycle. Before turning off the power, the power of the device 100 may remain on for a short period of time after each heating cycle (e.g., 5 seconds) to display an updated state of the device on the LED panel of the user interface. In some embodiments of the present invention, the device 100 may be turned on by sliding the container 102 containing the consumables out of the housing 202. In some embodiments, a separate power switch 246 may be used to turn the device on and off.

[00126] If an active connection to a smartphone is detected and if a user application is running on the smartphone, the device 100 will remain on for a period of up to 2 minutes before turning off. If the battery level is too low to operate, the user interface display 230 will flash several times (displaying the battery icon at "0%") before turning off the device.

[00127] In some embodiments of the invention, the user interface panel 230 may display a view of a cigarette divided into segments, showing which of the segments are still "unopened" (solid fill) and which of them are already used up (dashed outline), as an indicator showing how much more consumables ready for use are left in the container 102 containing the consumables. The user interface panel 230 may also display a battery icon with the current charge level, a charging icon (lightning symbol) if the device is connected to a network, and a Bluetooth icon if there is an active connection with a smartphone. The user interface panel 230 may display a slowly flashing Bluetooth icon if there is no active connection, but the device 100 is displaying an advertisement.

[00128] The device may also have an indicator 248 for informing the user of the power status. The indicator 248 may be an RGB LED. By way of example only: the RGB LED lights up green when the device is first turned on; flashes red during preheating; lights up red (continuously) during a "draw" and flashes blue during charging. Flashing of the indicator indicates the presence of a certain charge level in the battery (20-100%) in 20% increments (continuous blue light means that the battery is fully charged). Rapid flashing of the LED blue light means that an active Bluetooth connection has been detected (a phone is connected to the device and a user application is running on the phone).

[00129] Tactile feedback (housing vibration) may provide additional information to the user during operation of the device. For example, immediately after power is turned on (by pressing the power button), two short jolts occur. At the end of the preheating cycle, a long vibration may occur, indicating that the device is in puff mode (the beginning of the "puff" cycle of the flameless heating device). When power is first connected or disconnected via the USB port, a short vibration may occur. A short vibration may signal that an active connection via Bluetooth has been established with a smartphone on which the user application is running.

[00130] The Bluetooth connection can be started by turning on the power with a short (less than 1.5 seconds) press of the button located in the corresponding recess on the device body. If after the first short press, which turns on the device, a second short press follows, in the presence of an active energy-saving Bluetooth (BLE) connection, the device can begin to slowly display an advertisement (pairing mode). When a connection is established with the smartphone application, the Bluetooth icon on the user interface display 230 will stop flashing, and the LED will light up with a continuous blue light. If the device 100 is turned on and an active connection is established with the smartphone, it can begin to display an advertisement and make attempts to re-establish this connection with the phone until it is turned off. If the connection with this smartphone can be restored, the device can remain on for a period of up to 2 minutes before turning off. To break the established connection, the user can turn on the device with a short press, and then make another short press. While the BLE icon is flashing, the user must press and hold the power button 232 until the device 100 vibrates and the Bluetooth icon disappears.

[00131] Thus, by tightly controlling the above-mentioned conversion efficiency factors and the factors ensuring the product's compliance with the requirements, it is possible to provide a controlled supply of heat to the unit 104 containing consumables. The control of the heat supply involves a microprocessor controller 166 designed to monitor the induction heating system 160 in order to maintain different levels of electrical energy supply to the susceptor 106 during controlled time intervals. All of the above provides the user with the ability to control the process, which allows him to select certain taste qualities of the products used, determined by the temperature at which the consumable aerosol is produced.

[00132] In some embodiments of the invention, a microprocessor or adjustable logic unit may be used to control the frequency and power delivery of the induction heating system. As shown in Fig. 10A, the induction heating system 160 may include an inductor 162 connected in parallel with one or more capacitors 260 located towards and away from the oscillator. The inductance of the coil 162, in combination with the capacitance of the capacitor(s) 260, largely determines the resonant frequency at which the circuit will operate. However, in this embodiment, the microprocessor/microcontroller 166 may instead be used to control the power switches and, therefore, to control the oscillation frequency of the circuit. In this approach, the peak voltage and current are used as feedback so that the microprocessor control program can provide fine tuning to find resonance. The advantage of this approach is that it allows efficient control of the electrical energy supplied to the susceptor by synchronously switching on and off the oscillations of the circuit controlled by the control program of the microprocessor 166 and ensures optimal switching on/off of the power control elements that start the inductor system.

[00133] Based on these concepts, the inventors have envisioned a number of different embodiments. Thus, as stated above, the present invention includes a unit 104 containing consumables, a susceptor 106 built into the unit 104, a heating element 160 designed to at least partially accommodate the unit 104 containing consumables, a controller 166 for controlling the heating element 160, and a housing 202 for housing the unit 104 containing consumables, the susceptor 106, the heating element 160, and the controller 166. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the susceptor 106 is built inside the unit 104 containing consumables. In this case, any description of the relationship between the container 102 containing the consumables and other elements of the present invention may also be applied to the block 104 containing the consumables, since in some embodiments of the invention, placing the block 104 containing the consumables in the housing is not necessary.

[00134] In some embodiments of the invention, as shown in Fig. 10A, the device includes an oscillator for controlling the induction heating element 160. The oscillator has a capacitor 260 operatively connected to the induction heating element 160 in parallel. In some embodiments of the invention, as shown in Fig. 10B, several heating elements 160 can be connected in parallel with their corresponding capacitors 260a and 260b. In a preferred embodiment, the heating elements are in the form of spirally twisted wires 162a, 162b.

[00135] In order for a single container 102 containing consumables to be able to generate an aerosol multiple times, multiple heating elements 160 and/or movable heating elements 160 may be used. Thus, the heating element 160 consists of multiple spirally wound wires 162a and 162b, wherein each of these spirals may be operatively connected to the controller 166 for activation independently of the other spirals.

[00136] In some embodiments of the invention, the heating element 160 may be movable. In such embodiments, the container 102 containing the consumables may have an elongated shape having a first longitudinal axis L, and the heating element 162 may be configured to move linearly along the first longitudinal axis L. For example, as shown in Fig. 11, the heating element 160 may be attached to the supporting element 270. The supporting element 270 may be operatively connected to the housing 202 such that it can move along the length of the container 102 containing the consumables, while the heating element 160 remains spirally wound around the container 102 containing the consumables. The overall height S of the spiral (the linear distance from the first turn 272 to the last turn 274 of the spiral) may be such that it only covers one of the segments of the container 102 containing the consumables. Immediately after the activation of the heating element 160 on its segment, the supporting element 270 begins to move along the first longitudinal axis L of the container 102 containing the consumables to another segment of the container 102. The supporting element 270 moves to such a distance that the first turn 272 of the spiral is next to the place where the last turn 274 of this spiral was previously located. Thus, a new segment equal in size to the previously heated one is ready for heating. This can continue until the supporting element 270 moves from one end 105 of the container 102 containing the consumables to the opposite end 107.

[00137] In embodiments in which the container 102 containing the consumables consists of several segments 104 containing the consumables, the total height S of the coil may be approximately equal to the length of the block 104 containing the consumables. The support member 270 may be designed to align the coil with the segment 104 so that the coil can heat the entire block 104 as a whole. The support member 270 may be configured to move the coil from one block 104 containing the consumables to the next, thereby providing multiple heating of the entire container 102 containing the consumables, with the release of an aerosol with each heating.

[00138] As shown in Figs. 12A-12E, in order to facilitate proper alignment of the heating element 160 with the container 102 along the length, the device 200 can have a container positioner in its design. For example, such a positioner can be a magnet 280. In a preferred embodiment, this magnet 280 has a cylindrical shape having a second longitudinal axis M. In embodiments of the invention, in which the heating element 160 is a cylindrical coil wound around the container 102 containing consumables, this cylindrical coil has a third longitudinal axis C. The cylindrical magnet 280 and the heating element 160 are designed and positioned so as to ensure that the second longitudinal axis M and the third longitudinal axis C are located on the same line. In a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical magnet 280 has the shape of a circular ring, the central opening of which serves for the passage of an air flow. Preferably, such magnet 280 is made of rare earth neodymium and magnetized along its axis of symmetry.

[00139] In an embodiment of the invention using a magnet 280 for positioning, a magnetic element 281 can be attached to one end 105 of a container 102 containing consumables. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic element 281 is a piece of rolled iron sheet built into the first end 105 of the container 102. The cylindrical magnet 280 can be a member of the aerosol generating device 200, and the container 102 containing consumables can have the magnetic element 281 or a ring-shaped member attached to its end 105 so that the container 102 slides onto the magnet 280 attached to the aerosol generating device 200. Other combinations of magnets 280 and magnetic elements 281 in different positions can be used to achieve the desired positioning.

[00140] In one preferred embodiment of the invention, which uses a container 102 containing consumables with a filter tube 140 and a housing 150, the device for aligning the container with the coil can be a receiver 151, which is a tightly fitting cylinder (in the case where the housing 150 has a cylindrical shape) that can be used to align the container 102 with the coil 162, wherein the coil can be located outside the receiver 151, as shown in Fig. 12E. In a preferred embodiment, in order to avoid induction heating, the receiver 151 can be made of a dielectric material such as borosilicate glass, quartz glass, pyroceramics, Robax glass, high-temperature plastics such as Vespel, Torlon, polyimide, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PEEK (polyetheretherketone) or other suitable materials. Alternatively, the cylinder may be made of an electrically conductive material with a lower specific resistance than the susceptor 106 built into the container 102 containing the consumables. In this case, some induction heating of the receiver 151 is allowed, but not as strong as that of the susceptor 106. In cases where the susceptor 106 is made of materials with a higher resistance, such as iron, steel, tin, carbon or tungsten, materials with a lower resistance may be copper, aluminum and brass, although other materials may also be used. In some embodiments of the invention, a receiver 151 with a specific resistance equal to or higher than that of the susceptor 106 may be used, which will heat the outer surface of the container 102 containing the consumables, since the receiver 151 is heated by induction. The receiver 151 can be built into the device 200 and properly aligned with the spirals 162, for example, if the container 102 is inserted into the spirals 162, the susceptor 106 should be properly aligned with the spirals 162.

[00141] In some embodiments of the invention, the housing 150 can function as a receiver. Therefore, instead of a separate receiver 151, the housing 150 can have the characteristics described above, and the insertion of the container 102 into the spiral 162 can simultaneously be a process of combining them, or the housing can be fixed inside the spirals 162, and the filter tube 140, inside which the block 104 containing consumables and the susceptor 106 are placed, can be inserted into the housing 150.

[00142] In some embodiments of the invention, simultaneous activation of several sections of a single container containing consumables can be achieved using a susceptor 106 having several teeth 290, as shown in Figs. 13A-D. The multi-tooth susceptor 106 has two or more teeth 290. In some embodiments of the invention, the susceptor can have three teeth 290a, 290b and 290c, four or more than four teeth. In a preferred embodiment, the multi-tooth susceptor 106 has three or four teeth.

[00143] The teeth 290a, 290b and 290c of the multi-tooth susceptor 106 are generally parallel to each other, as shown in Figs. 13C and 13D. The multi-tooth susceptor 106 can be formed and integrated into the container 102 containing the consumables in such a way that each of the teeth 290a, 290b and 290c will be parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the container containing the consumables and at the same distance from it, and also at the same distance from each other along the perimeter of the imaginary circle. Thus, in the cross-section, as shown in Figs. 14A-C, the teeth of the susceptor 290a, 290b and 290c are located at the same distance from each other along the circular surface of the container 102 containing the consumables. This arrangement allows each of the teeth 290a, 290b, 290c to maximize the non-overlapping heating zones for each tooth if each tooth contact is activated to the maximum. In other words, when the susceptor teeth 290a, 290b and 290c are heated, it will radiate heat in the radial direction from its teeth 290a, 290b and 290c, forming a circular heating zone with the teeth 290a, 290b and 290c in the center. Each susceptor tooth 290a, 290b and 290c will heat its own circular zone, although some overlap may be inevitable. In total, the entire cross-sectional area of the block 104 containing consumables can be heated one cross-sectional segment at a time.

[00144] In the case where the heating element 160 is a cylindrical coil wound around the susceptor 106, the maximum amount of energy is transmitted to the center of this coil. Therefore, if the susceptor 106 is aligned with the center of the cylindrical coil, it will receive the maximum amount of energy from the current passing through the coil. In other words, if one of the teeth of the susceptor 290a, 290b and 290c is on the same line with the axis of the cylindrical coil, it will receive the maximum amount of energy from the cylindrical coil. Thus, in order to heat each tooth of the susceptor 290a, 290b and 290c independently of each other, the teeth of the susceptor 290a, 290b and 290c and the center of the coil must move relative to each other in such a way that the center of the coil coincides with one of the teeth of the susceptor 290a, 290b and 290c sequentially. This can be achieved by moving the teeth of the susceptor relative to the coil or by moving the coil relative to the teeth of the susceptor, or both in parallel.

[00145] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heating element 160 moves relative to the susceptor 106. For example, a cylindrical coil can be wound around a container 102 containing consumables and configured to rotate around it along an eccentric path so that when the cylindrical coil rotates, each of the teeth 290a, 290b and 290c of the susceptor 106 is aligned with the center of the coil alternately, as shown in Figs. 14A-16D. The container 102 containing the consumables may be an element of an elongated shape defining a first longitudinal axis L, wherein the heating element 160 is a spiral wrapped around the container 102 containing the consumables, forming a cylinder defining a second longitudinal axis C, and wherein the heating element 160 is designed with the possibility of rotation around the container 102 containing the consumables along an eccentric trajectory in such a way that the second longitudinal axis C is on the same line with each of the teeth 290a, 290b and 290c of the multi-tooth susceptor at a certain moment during the movement of the heating element around the container 102 containing the consumables. Consequently, the multi-toothed susceptor 106 remains stationary, and the coil rotates around it along an eccentric trajectory in such a way that during rotation the center of the coil coincides with the linear axis of each of the teeth 290a, 290b, 290c of the susceptor alternately. Current transmission for the rotation of the coil is provided by slip rings.

[00146] The rotation of the heating element 160 can be performed by means of a series of gears 300a, 300b operatively connected to the motor 302. For example, as shown in Fig. 17A-B, the heating element 160 can be mounted on the first gear 300a in such a way that it can rotate together with this gear. The second gear 300b can be operatively connected to the first gear 300a in such a way that the rotation of the second gear 300b is transmitted to the first gear 300a. The second gear 300b can be operatively connected to the motor 302 to impart rotation thereto. The heating element 160 is mounted on the first gear 300a in such a way that the rotation of the first gear 300a moves the longitudinal axis C of the heating element 160 along an eccentric trajectory, and does not simply rotate the heating element around a fixed center. Thus, the center of the heating element 160 can move to align with the various teeth 290a, 290b, 290c of the susceptor.

[00147] In some embodiments of the invention, the heating element 160, the gears 300a, 300b and the motor 302 can be mounted on a special supporting element 270, as shown in Fig. 19. This supporting element 270 allows the heating element, the gears 300a, 300b and the motor 302 to move along the axis along the length of the container 102 containing consumables. The supporting element 270 can be operatively connected to a drive 306, which, in turn, is operatively connected to a second motor 304. For example, the drive 306 can have a thread. The supporting element 270 can have a threaded hole 276, to which the drive 306 is attached. The operation of the second motor 304 causes the drive 306 to rotate. Rotation of the drive 306 moves the carrier 270 along the drive 306, as shown by the double arrow in Fig. 19.

[00148] In some embodiments of the invention, instead of rotating the heating element 160 along an eccentric path, it can move translationally along the X-Y axis, when viewed in cross section. As a result, the container 102 containing the consumables can be an elongated element defining a longitudinal axis L, and the heating element 160 is configured to move in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis L, when viewed in cross section, in order to align the center of the cylindrical coil of the heating element 160 with each of the teeth 290a, 290b and 290c of the multi-tooth susceptor 106 alternately. During the movement along the X-Y axis, the current can be supplied to the coil through a flexible electrical conductor or by means of moving electrical contacts.

[00149] For example, the heating element 160 can be operatively mounted on a pair of rails (plates for movement in a linear direction) 310, 312, as shown in Fig. 20. In particular, the heating element 160 can be mounted directly on the first rail 310, and the first rail 310 can be mounted on the second rail 312. The first rail 310 can be designed to move in the X-axis or Y-axis direction, and the second rail 312 can be designed to move in the Y-axis or X-axis direction, respectively. In the example shown in Fig. 20, the first rail 310 is designed to move in the X direction, while the second rail 312 is designed to move in the Y direction. This configuration can be changed so that the first rail 310 determines the movement in the Y direction, and the second rail 312 determines the movement in the X direction. The first and second rails 310, 312 can be operatively connected to their corresponding motors, for example, via gears, to impart movement to them in the corresponding direction. The heating element 160 can move between the two rails 310, 312 so that its longitudinal axis C is on the same line with any of the teeth 290a, 290b, 290c of the susceptor.

[00150] In other designs, the coil may move along the linear axis of the susceptor independently of the rotational or non-rotational mechanisms discussed above. In this regard, a three-pronged design of the susceptor would allow the device to heat the container 102 containing the consumables three times in the same linear position by heating three different prongs 290a, 290b, 290c three times before it moves to its next linear position where it is again heated three times. In the case where the container 102 containing the consumables has four linear positions, it alone must provide 12 separate "puffs", i.e. 3 prongs in 4 positions along the length of the container 102 containing the consumables.

[00151] In some embodiments of the invention, instead of moving the heating element 160 relative to the container 102 containing the consumables, it is possible to move the container 102 relative to the heating element 160. In this regard, the container 102 containing the consumables is configured to rotate within the heating element 160 along an eccentric path such that the second longitudinal axis C defined by the coils is in line with the teeth 290a, 290b, 290c of the multi-tooth susceptor at a certain point during the rotation of the container 102 containing the consumables within the heating element 160. Alternatively, the container 102 containing the consumables is configured to move in a radial direction within the heating element 160 such that the second longitudinal axis C is in line with each of the teeth of the multi-tooth susceptor at some point during the movement of the container 102 within the heating element 160. In some embodiments of the invention, both the container 102 containing the consumables and the heating element 160 can move. For example, the heating element 160 can move linearly along the longitudinal axis of the container 102, and the container 102 can move along an eccentric or radial trajectory to move the susceptor 106 to such a position relative to the heating element 106 that all consumables are heated sequentially when the user takes individual puffs. Other movement options can also be used.

[00152] The above described movement mechanisms are provided solely as an example. Movement in the X-Y-Z direction can be realized using a variety of combinations of motors, linear actuators, gears, belts, cams, solenoids, and the like.

[00153] As shown in Fig. 21, the control of an induction heating system in a closed loop can be performed based on the measurement of the magnetic flux density created by the induction heating system. Induction heating systems operate by creating a concentrated alternating magnetic field inside a heating element in the form of an inductor. Such a field causes a heating effect in a metal susceptor due to eddy currents and a change in the direction of magnetic flux (provided that the exposed material is made of iron) that occur in the susceptor material. Induction heating typically occurs in an "open loop" where there are limited means of monitoring the temperature of the susceptor inside the inductor during its operation. Under controlled conditions, a magnetic field located outside the inductor and in reasonable proximity to the inductor can be used to determine the flux intensity inside the coil. For example, a small coil 310 can be placed in reasonable proximity to the heating element 160 in the form of a spiral having an axis approximately parallel to the magnetic flux lines 312 passing through this coil 310, providing the ability to determine the parameters of the magnetic flux of the heating element 160, present due to the voltage generated on this coil 310 due to the change in the magnetic flux passing through this coil 310. Then, the intensity of this external flux can be adjusted to match the density of the magnetic induction flux inside the heating element 160, and, therefore, can be used as a means of controlling the induction system in a closed loop to ensure stable operation necessary for heating the susceptor 106. The magnetic flux is symmetrical with respect to the induction axis of the coil. The measurement of the flux density, made at any location near the induction coil, can be used to extrapolate the magnetic flux density inside the heating element based on the characteristic of the relative values of the magnetic flux at each location (inside the induction coil and inside the passive sensor coil). In practice, there is no need to determine this quantitatively, since instead the measurement of the magnetic flux is used to determine the rate of heating occurring in the susceptor 106 located in this magnetic field. Thus, the small coil 310 configured in this way functions as a magnetic flux sensor.

[00154] As a result, in some embodiments of the invention, the device may further have a magnetic flux sensor located near the induction heating element 160 and configured to measure the magnetic flux generated by the induction heating element 160. The magnetic flux sensor may be operatively connected to the controller 166 to control the activation of the induction heating element 160 based on data received from the magnetic flux sensor.

[00155] In some embodiments of the invention, it is desirable to be able to determine whether the block 104 containing consumables or a portion thereof has been heated or not. In the event that the block 104 is already heated, the heating element 160 can heat the next block 104 containing consumables or the next segment of the block 104 in order to prevent energy from being spent on an already used portion of the block 104 containing consumables. Therefore, in some embodiments of the invention, as shown in Fig. 11, the device is provided with a method for detecting already used segments of the container 102 containing consumables, which allows the device to fully automatically determine the next unused segment available for use. For example, the device can have a use sensor 320 for determining whether the detected portion of the container 102 containing consumables has been heated above a predetermined temperature. In some embodiments of the invention, the use sensor 320 may detect visual changes in the container 102 containing the consumables, indicating the fact of heating. In some embodiments of the invention, the use sensor 320 may detect temperature changes in the container 102 containing the consumables, indicating the fact of heating. In some embodiments, the use sensor 320 may detect changes in the texture of the contents of the container 102 containing the consumables, indicating the fact of heating. In some embodiments, the use sensor 320 may function as a controller that tracks in which region of the container 102 the heating element 160 is located and when it has been heated in connection with its movement along the container 102 containing the consumables. For example, the controller may have a memory for storing information about the location of the regions of the container 102 heated to a predetermined temperature.

[00156] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the use sensor 320 is a reflective sensor. The reflective sensor may be equipped to detect changes in the container 102 containing the consumables that have occurred after it has been subjected to significant heating (i.e. above normal daytime temperatures) compared to its initial state. Even more preferably, the container 102 containing the consumables contains a heat-sensitive dye that changes color when heated to a predetermined temperature. Such a color change is detected using the reflective sensor.

[00157] A heat-sensitive dye may be applied to the outer surface of the container 102 containing the consumables. When any segment of the container 102 is heated, the strip 322 located in close proximity to the heated segment changes color. For example, the strip 322 may change color from white to black. The use sensor 320 mounted with the heating element 160 has an optical element 324 aimed slightly above or below the heating element to monitor the side view of the container 102 containing the consumables over the entire range of the moving heating element 160.

[00158] In some embodiments of the invention, a limit switch 326 is also installed at one end 105 of the container 102 containing consumables, which is used to record the removal and reinsertion of the container 102 into the device. When the container 102 is reinserted, the device activates the motorized heating element unit and moves it through its entire range of movement, allowing the use sensor 320 to determine whether any segments have been previously heated by detecting dark stripes 322 of the heat-sensitive dye. Thus, the device can further have a limit switch 326 for resetting the memory data when a new container 102 containing consumables is inserted into the housing.

[00159] In some embodiments of the invention, to control the removal of heat from the heating element 160, the device may further have a radiator 330 operatively connected to the induction heating element 160. Induction heating includes circulating high currents in an induction coil, which leads to resistive heating of the wire used to form the coil. To remove heat, radiators 330 are used made of materials with high thermal conductivity, which are also dielectrics. In a preferred embodiment, radiators 330 can be manufactured using injection molding technology or mold casting. Since in a preferred embodiment a cylindrical coil is used as the heating element 160, radiator 330 can also have the shape of a cylinder that covers the induction coil on all sides, that is, actually encapsulates it as shown in Fig. 22. The cylindrical radiator 330 containing the heating element 160 is located in a vertical cavity inside the housing 202, forming a kind of "exhaust pipe" inside which air convection occurs. Such an exhaust pipe requires ventilation at the top to facilitate the air flow. This method also eliminates the formation of interference bands of the electromagnetic field, allowing each segment of the container 102 containing consumables to be heated very specifically. As a result of such specificity, it would be unnecessary to wrap the block 104 located inside the container 102 in dielectric foil or other similar material, paper or similar material would be sufficient.

[00160] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the radiator 330 is a finned cylinder that surrounds the induction heating element 160 on all sides. This finned cylinder is a cylindrical radiator with fins 332 that project perpendicularly from its outer surface 334. It is preferable that each fin 332 projects as far as possible from the surface of the cylinder, providing a significant increase in the surface area through which heat can be removed from the heating element 160. A polymer can be used as a heat-conducting material for the radiator 330. The heat-conducting polymer can be a thermosetting or thermoplastic compound, molded or cast. The radiator 330 can be made by milling, casting or assembled from such materials. The material can be hard or elastic. Some examples of heat-conducting compounds used in heat-conducting polymers are aluminum nitride, boron nitride, carbon, graphite and ceramics. In a preferred embodiment, the heating element 160 is an induction coil enclosed in a finned cylinder of thermally conductive polymer that has been molded around the coil, with a cavity and a hole in the center that creates ventilation due to the chimney effect.

[00161] In some embodiments of the invention, as shown in Fig. 23, the device may further have an air flow controller 340 for providing means for adjusting the stability of the aroma of the contents of the unit 104 containing consumables by controlling the intensity of the air flow passing through the container 102 containing the consumables. The design of the container 102 containing the consumables is such that the amount of steam/flavor introduced into the air flow channels is determined by the duration and intensity of the induction heating, as well as the difference in air pressure between the air channels passing through the container 102 containing the consumables. Due to this pressure difference, the steam is drawn from the container 102 into the air flow. If the air flow directed into the first end 105 of the container 102 containing the consumables is adjustable, such pressure difference can be adjusted, increasing (or decreasing) the amount of steam introduced into this air flow, thereby effectively adjusting the stability of the fragrance. This ability to regulate the persistence of the aroma is closely related to the heating of the container 102 containing the consumables, since this steam is formed precisely by increasing the temperature of the consumable. By precisely controlling the heating process (time and speed) and the intensity of the air flow passing through the first end 105 of the container 102, it is possible to obtain a wide range of sensations from the persistent aroma.

[00162] For example, the air flow controller 340 may have an adjustable flow control valve 342, such as a needle valve, a butterfly valve, a ball valve, or an adjustable orifice. Adjustable flow control valves allow the user to control the air flow even during operation of the device. However, the air flow controller 340 may also be a membrane 344 with holes of a constant size, for example, a porous or fibrous membrane, or a similar element. The membrane 344 may also operate as a suction filter for trapping solid particles. As a result, the flow control mechanisms may or may not be adjustable by the user. In embodiments of the membrane 344, several membranes 344 with holes of different sizes may be provided. Thus, the user can select the desired size of the holes and activate such a membrane 344 on the first end 105 of the device. In case the user prefers an increased or decreased air flow, the user can select another membrane 344 with holes of a larger or smaller size, respectively. In some embodiments of the invention, the air flow controller 340 can use both the regulating valve 342 and the membrane 344. For example, the membrane 344 can be located in front of the regulating valve 342 so as to regulate the intensity of the air flow and filter out solid particles in front of the regulating valve 342, then the regulating valve 342 can make additional adjustments to the air flow to achieve precise control of the air flow.

[00163] In some embodiments of the invention, the aerosol flow, instead of moving from the consumable containing unit 104 through the openings 120 of the housing 108 into the filter tube 140 and further towards the mouthpiece 158, air enters the susceptor 106, draws the active substance from the unit 104 to create an aerosol, which then moves through the susceptor 106 towards the mouthpiece 158, as shown in Figs. 25A-E. In such embodiments, the susceptor 106 can have one or more hollow teeth 350 with at least one inlet opening 352 along the length of each tooth 350 and at least one outlet opening 354. One end 356 of the tooth 350 is operatively connected to the base of the susceptor 358, and the second free end 360 is located opposite the base of the susceptor 358. The hollow tooth 350 is connected to the base of the susceptor 358 by the end 356. The outlet opening 354 of the hollow tooth 350 is located on the free end 360. For example, the outlet opening can be located on the tip 362 of the free end 360 of the tooth 350, or there can be several outlet openings 354, spaced at an angle along the perimeter of the surface of the hollow tooth 350 on the side of the free end 360.

[00164] In some embodiments of the invention, the tip 362 of the free end 360 of the tooth 350 may be tapered or pointed to more easily penetrate the interior of the block 104 containing consumables. The particle size, density, binders, fillers, or any element used in the block 104 may be designed in such a way as to ensure penetration of the susceptor teeth 290, 350 and/or perforating needles without causing excessive compression or a change in the density of the block 104 containing consumables. A change in density as a result of compression of the "package" of the block 104 may adversely affect the flow of air or vapor through the block 104.

[00165] Any particles of consumable material that may be ejected from the housing 108 after penetration of the susceptor 106 will be retained in the cavity 368 between the block 104 containing the consumables and the mouthpiece 158. Since the ends 362 of the teeth 290,350 are pointed, it is unlikely that this consumable material will be ejected from the housing 108.

[00166] In some embodiments of the invention, the outlet openings 354 and/or the inlet openings 352 of the susceptor teeth may be covered with a special coating that melts at high temperatures. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the block 104 containing the consumables has a sufficient length to cover the entire hollow tooth 350 of the susceptor, except for the outlet opening 354.

[00167] The base 358 of the susceptor may have an opening 364 aligned with a hollow tooth 350. In embodiments with multiple hollow teeth 350a-d, each such tooth has its own corresponding opening 364.

[00168] In some embodiments of the invention, the susceptor may have several hollow teeth 350a-d. Such hollow teeth 350a-d may be arranged in a circle, which ensures their spatial alignment with the heating element 160 or the container 102 containing consumables when these elements are moved. In some embodiments of the invention, the susceptor may have one hollow tooth 350 located in the center of the base 358 of the susceptor. In some embodiments of the invention, the susceptor may have a central hollow tooth 350 surrounded by several other hollow teeth 350a-d. The hollow tooth 350 may also have a different arrangement.

[00169] Each hollow tooth 350 may have at least one inlet opening 352 and at least one outlet opening 354. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow tooth 350 has multiple inlet openings 352 and multiple outlet openings 354. The inlet openings 352 may be arranged in rows along the length of the hollow tooth 350. In some embodiments of the invention, the inlet openings 352 may be arranged in a circle around the perimeter of the hollow tooth 350. With an increase in the number of inlet openings 352 on the hollow tooth 350, the number of places through which the generated aerosol can exit the block 104 and the container 102 containing consumables increases. Similarly, the tooth 350 may have multiple outlet openings 354 arranged in a circle around its perimeter on the side of the free end 360.

[00170] In some embodiments of the invention, the length of the block 104 containing consumables is shorter than the distance from the end 105 of the container 102 containing consumables to the mouthpiece 158. In this case, there is a cavity 368 between the block 104 and the mouthpiece 158. This cavity 368 can be filled with a heat-conducting material, a flavoring agent, etc.

[00171] As shown in the section in Fig. 25E, in the operating mode, the susceptor 106 is built into the unit 104 containing the consumables. When the susceptor 106 is heated by induction heating with the heating element 160, an aerosol comes out of the unit 104. When the user takes a puff through the mouthpiece 158, the pressure difference inside the container 102 containing the consumables causes the aerosol to penetrate into the hollow tooth 350 through the inlet opening 352 and come out through the outlet opening 354 (see arrows showing the direction of air flow). The aerosol then enters the cavity 368 of the container 102 containing the consumables and is filtered through the mouthpiece 158 for inhalation by the user. In this case, the casing 108 does not have openings 120.

[00172] In some embodiments of the invention, as shown in Fig. 26A-G, the susceptor may have one hollow tooth 350 located in the center of the base 358 of the susceptor, and several teeth 290a-d located around the hollow tooth 350. In such an embodiment, the hollow tooth 350 does not have to be heated by induction heating, although this is acceptable. In this embodiment, the block 104 containing consumables may have an opening 366 in the center through which the hollow tooth 350 is sealedly inserted.

[00173] As shown in Fig. 26G, in operation, when the susceptor teeth 290 are heated, the resulting aerosol enters through the inlet openings 352 of the hollow tooth 350 and exits through the outlet openings 354 into the mouthpiece 158, as shown by the arrows indicating the air flow path.

[00174] The aerosol produced by the methods and devices described herein operates effectively and reduces the amount of toxic by-products generated during the use of conventional cigarettes and other devices other than flameless heating devices.

[00175] EXAMPLE

[00176] As shown in Fig. 24A-C, testing was conducted on containers 102 containing consumables that were prepared by pressing powdered tobacco mixed with a humectant and PGA (propylene glycol alginate) to form a block 104 containing consumables with a susceptor 106 therein. The block 104 is packaged in a foil casing as a casing 108, inserted into a filter tube 140 so that the openings 120 are located on three sides as air passage channels, covered with standard cigarette paper as a body 150, having at the end inserted into the user's mouth a proximal filter with high throughput as a mouthpiece 158, and at the opposite end - a distal filter tip as an end cap 154. The susceptor 106 is made in the form of a metal sheet twisted into a spiral. The block 104 containing consumables and the casing 108 have a triangular cross-section. The filter tube 140 is a spiral paper tube.

[00177] Tests in Durham, North Carolina, USA were conducted on a prototype of the device, which was found to heat the susceptor to 611°C (degrees Celsius) after appropriate adjustment of the electrical power applied during testing.

[00178] The Durham tests were conducted using a SM459 20-port linear analytical smoking machine and were performed by technicians qualified to operate the equipment and all associated accessories. The testers placed three containers 102 containing consumables into the smoking machine. Six puffs were then taken from each container 102, for a total of 18 puffs. The resulting aerosol was then collected on filter pads. In the smoking mode, a 2-second puff of 55 ml was taken every 30 seconds and the data were analyzed using a normal distribution plot. Analysis of the collected aerosols showed that each "cigar" aerosol, consisting of consumables, contained 0.570 mg of carbon monoxide (CO), which is well below levels at which ignition is expected, despite the fact that ignition is generally considered to occur at temperatures above 350°C.

[00179] A second series of tests was conducted in Richmond, Virginia. The Richmond tests were conducted on a similarly prepared container 102 containing consumables and a prototype device that was configured to heat the susceptor 106 at three different temperature settings: 275°C, 350°C, and 425°C. The CO data were collected by Enthalpy Analytical LLC (EA), Richmond, VA, USA, in accordance with EA Method AM-007. 102 containers containing consumables were smoked using an analytical smoking machine in accordance with the established Canadian Intense smoking procedure. The vapour phase of the smoke (i.e., the aerosol) was collected in gas sampling bags placed on the appropriate parts of the smoking machine, which was set to the desired puff parameters. The Non-Dispersive Infrared Absorption (NDIR) Method was used to determine the volume percent (vol %) of CO in the vapour phase. Based on the number of containers 102 containing consumables, the number of puffs, the volume per puff, and the ambient conditions, the percentage CO was converted to milligrams per container containing consumables (mg/cig).

[00180] At the set temperature conditions, it was found that the aerosol formed at each of these conditions does not contain CO, despite the fact that ignition is generally considered to occur at temperatures above 350°C.

[00181] The tests performed are standard. Similar industry standard tests for commercially available flameless smoking products specify a CO concentration of 0.436 mg/cig. For a conventional lit cigarette, the CO concentration specified is 30.2 mg/cig.

[00182] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to exhaustively explain or limit the present invention to the detailed disclosure thereof. In light of the foregoing, a number of modifications and changes in principle are possible. It is intended that the scope of the present invention be limited not by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents of the appended claims.

Claims (63)

1. A device for producing an aerosol, comprising: - a block containing consumables; - a susceptor inside a block containing consumables; in which the consumable is compressed around the susceptor; - a housing in which a unit containing consumables and a susceptor are placed, wherein the housing has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the housing has an opening; and - a plurality of housings and an induction heating element configured and programmed to selectively heat each housing a specified number of times at a specified temperature selected by the user, wherein the specified temperature is sufficient to release the aerosol from the consumable-containing unit of the corresponding heated housing. 2. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that it additionally includes a device for producing an aerosol, designed in such a way that a housing and an inductive heating element are placed in it, and the housing has a mouthpiece protruding outward from the device for producing an aerosol, and the device for producing an aerosol includes: - a switch functionally connected to the inductive heating element for turning on the inductive heating element, - a user interface panel functionally connected to the switch and the induction heating element to provide status information; and - a controller that includes a system for controlling the frequency supplied to the induction heating element, operating on the basis of a processor. 3. The device according to item 1, characterized in that it additionally includes a filter designed in such a way that a casing is placed inside it without any gap between the filter and the casing. 4. The device according to item 3, characterized in that the filter covers the opening. 5. The device according to item 4, characterized in that it additionally includes a housing for accommodating the filter. 6. The device according to item 1, characterized in that on the first or second end of the casing there is a bent protrusion for spatial separation of adjacent casings. 7. The device according to item 6, characterized in that the casing has a certain number of holes, and these holes are located at the first and second ends of the casing. 8. The device according to item 1, characterized in that the block containing consumables contains two briquettes of powdered consumable material. 9. The device according to item 8, characterized in that the susceptor is located between two briquettes. 10. The device according to item 1, characterized in that the susceptor is a metal plate. 11. The device according to item 10, characterized in that said metal plate has a certain number of holes. 12. The device according to item 10, characterized in that the susceptor is a metal plate of elongated shape, on which there are groups of holes and dividing cutouts, wherein the groups of holes alternate sequentially with cutouts along the entire length of the plate in such a way that each group of holes is followed by one of the dividing cutouts. 13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally includes a coating for closing the opening, wherein the coating contains propylene glycol alginate. 14. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally includes a coating for closing the opening, wherein the coating contains a flavoring agent. 15. The device according to item 1, characterized in that the susceptor is made of steel wool. 16. The device according to item 15, characterized in that the susceptor contains a functional additive. 17. The device according to item 15, characterized in that the susceptor is a gasket made of steel wool of an elongated shape, on which there are groups of holes and dividing cutouts, wherein the groups of holes alternate sequentially with cutouts along the entire length of the gasket in such a way that each group of holes is followed by one of the dividing cutouts. 18. A method of operating an aerosol generating device comprising: heating a unit containing consumables by heating a susceptor using an induction heating element configured and programmed to heat at a predetermined temperature selected by the user to release a consumable in the form of an aerosol from the unit containing the consumables without forming toxic by-products associated with combustion; wherein the consumable is compressed around the susceptor substantially entirely located within a casing having an opening; wherein the heating releases the consumable in the form of an aerosol. 19. A method for manufacturing a device for producing an aerosol, comprising: - compression of the consumable material around the susceptor to form a block containing the consumable material, whereby the compression minimizes the amount of oxygen in the block containing the consumable material; - placing the consumable unit and the susceptor in a casing, where the casing has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the casing includes an opening; - placement of an induction heating element configured and programmed to heat the susceptor at a predetermined temperature selected by the user, sufficient to release the aerosol from the unit containing the consumable without burning the consumable. 20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the contents of the block containing consumables are mixed with an additive to minimize the oxygen content in the tablet. 21. The method according to item 20, characterized in that it additionally includes placing a certain number of casings inside the filter, laid close to each other. 22. The method according to item 21, characterized in that the casings are spatially separated from each other by a bent protrusion located at one or more ends of the casing. 23. A device for producing an aerosol, comprising: a consumable containing block comprising a consumable compressed around a susceptor; an induction heating element configured and programmed to heat the susceptor at a predetermined temperature selected by the user, sufficient to release an aerosol from the unit containing the consumable without burning the consumable; wherein the block containing the consumables is an element of an elongated shape defining a first longitudinal axis, and in which the induction heating element is designed with the possibility of movement along the block containing the consumables. 24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that the block containing the consumables has a cylindrical magnet at one of its ends, wherein this cylindrical magnet defines a second longitudinal axis, wherein the heating element is a cylindrical coil, in the center of which is located a block containing the consumables, wherein this cylindrical coil defines a third longitudinal axis, and wherein the cylindrical magnet and the heating element are designed in such a way as to ensure the alignment of the second longitudinal axis with the third longitudinal axis on the same straight line. 25. The device according to claim 23, wherein the susceptor has several teeth. 26. The device according to item 25, characterized in that the heating element is designed with the possibility of rotation around the block containing consumables. 27. The device according to item 26, characterized in that the susceptor, having several teeth parallel to each other, is built into a block containing consumables. 28. The device according to claim 27, characterized in that the heating element is a spiral wound around the block containing the consumables, with the formation of a cylinder defining the second longitudinal axis, and wherein the heating element is designed with the possibility of rotation around the block containing the consumables, along an eccentric trajectory in such a way that the second longitudinal axis is aligned with each of the teeth of the toothed susceptor at a certain moment during the rotational movement of the heating element around the block containing the consumables. 29. The device according to item 25, characterized in that the induction heating element is designed with the possibility of movement in the radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis. 30. A device for producing an aerosol, comprising: - a block containing consumables, including consumables pressed around a susceptor; - a heating element configured to at least partially cover the unit containing the consumables and programmed to heat to a predetermined temperature sufficient to release an aerosol from the unit containing the consumable without burning the consumable; - a controller for controlling the induction heating element; and - a housing containing a block containing consumables, a susceptor, an induction heating element and a controller. 31. The device according to item 30, characterized in that the susceptor has several teeth parallel to each other and is built into a block containing consumables. 32. The device according to claim 31, characterized in that the block containing the consumables is an element of an elongated shape defining a first longitudinal axis, wherein the heating element is a spiral wound around the block containing the consumables to form a cylinder defining a second longitudinal axis, and wherein the block containing the consumables is designed with the possibility of rotation inside the heating element along an eccentric trajectory in such a way that the second longitudinal axis is aligned with each of the teeth of the toothed susceptor at a certain moment during the rotational movement of the block containing the consumables inside the heating element. 33. The device according to claim 30, characterized in that the induction heating element is a spiral wound around a block containing consumables to form a cylinder defining a second longitudinal axis, and wherein the block containing consumables is designed with the possibility of moving in a radial direction inside the heating element in such a way that the second longitudinal axis is aligned with each of the teeth of the toothed susceptor at a certain moment during the rotational movement of the block containing consumables inside the heating element. 34. The device according to item 30, characterized in that it additionally includes a magnetic flux sensor adjacent to the induction heating element and designed to measure the magnetic flux created by the heating element. 35. The device according to claim 34, characterized in that the magnetic flux sensor is operatively connected to a controller for controlling the activation of the induction heating element based on data received from the magnetic flux sensor. 36. The device according to item 30, characterized in that it additionally includes a usage sensor for detecting overheating above a predetermined temperature of the sections of the unit containing consumables that it controls. 37. The device according to item 36, characterized in that the use sensor is a reflective sensor. 38. The device according to item 37, characterized in that the unit containing consumables is placed in a unit containing consumables, and the container containing consumables contains a heat-sensitive dye that changes color when heated to a specified temperature, and such a color change is detected by a reflective sensor. 39. The device according to item 38, characterized in that the controller additionally has a memory for storing information about the location of sections of the block containing consumables that have been heated to a specified temperature. 40. The device according to item 39, characterized in that it additionally includes a limit switch for resetting the memory data when a new unit containing consumables is inserted into the housing. 41. The device according to item 30, characterized in that it additionally includes a radiator operatively connected to the induction heating element. 42. The device according to item 41, characterized in that the radiator is a ribbed cylinder, inside which an induction heating element is placed. 43. The device according to item 30, characterized in that it additionally contains an air flow controller. 44. The device according to item 43, characterized in that the susceptor has a hollow tooth. 45. The device according to item 44, characterized in that the hollow tooth has an inlet and outlet opening. 46. The device according to item 30, characterized in that it additionally includes a positioner for aligning the position of the container containing consumables.