RU2826181C2 - Vapour cartridge and vapour system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: smoking devices.

SUBSTANCE: electronic vapour delivery systems such as electronic cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems that deliver nicotine through vaporized liquids. A cartridge for a vapour supply system is proposed, comprising: a reservoir for an aerosolizable substrate material limited by a housing, an atomizer for transferring an aerosolizable substrate material from the reservoir into an aerosol, the atomizer being located outside the outer dimensions of the reservoir, and a shell at least partially surrounding the atomizer to form aerosol chamber around the atomizer. In this case, the shell contains at least one wall that limits the aerosol chamber. Moreover, at least one wall includes a side wall that limits the central space that creates an aerosol chamber outside the external dimensions of the tank, a connecting part, through which the shell is connected to the body so that it protrudes outward from the body, one or more holes in the at least one wall to allow the substrate material to be aerosolized to enter the aerosol chamber from the reservoir and exit the aerosol from the aerosol chamber; and one or more openings in at least one wall to allow air to enter the aerosol chamber.

EFFECT: simpler design of the vapour supply system.

23 cl, 14 dwg

Description

Field of technology to which the invention relates

The present invention relates to an atomizer shell for a vapor supply system, to a cartomizer for a vapor supply system and to a vapor supply system containing such an atomizer shell.

State of the art

Many electronic vapor delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems that deliver nicotine through vaporized liquids, consist of two main components or sections, namely, a cartridge section, or cartomizer, and a control unit (battery section). The cartomizer typically includes a liquid reservoir and an atomizer for vaporizing the liquid. These parts may be referred to collectively as an aerosol source. The atomizer typically combines the functions of porosity or capillary action and heating to transfer liquid from the reservoir to the location where it is heated and vaporized. For example, it may be implemented as an electric heater, which may be a resistive wire formed into a coil or other shape for resistive (Joule) heating, or a current collector for induction heating, and a porous element with capillary or wicking ability in close proximity to the heater, which absorbs liquid from the reservoir and transfers it to the heater. The control unit typically includes a battery to supply power to operate the system. Power from the battery is supplied to activate the heater, which heats up and vaporizes a small amount of liquid coming from the reservoir. The user then inhales the vaporized liquid.

The components of a cartomizer may be designed for short-term use only, so the cartomizer is a disposable component of the system, also called a consumable. In contrast, the control unit is usually designed for repeated use with a series of cartomizers that the user replaces as each one expires. Consumable cartomizers are supplied to the consumer with a reservoir pre-filled with liquid and are designed to be discarded when the reservoir is empty. For convenience and safety, the reservoir is sealed and does not allow for easy refilling, as the liquid can be difficult to work with. When a new supply of liquid is needed, the user can simply replace the entire cartomizer.

In this context, it is desirable that cartomizers are simple to manufacture and consist of a small number of parts. Consequently, they can be efficiently produced in large quantities at a low cost with minimal waste. Therefore, cartomizers with a simple design are of interest.

Disclosure of the essence of the invention

According to a first aspect of some embodiments of the invention described in this document, a housing is provided for at least partially surrounding an atomizer of a vapor supply system to define an aerosol chamber around the atomizer, wherein the atomizer is located at least partially outside with respect to the external dimensions of a reservoir for an aerosolizable substrate material from which an aerosol is produced by means of the atomizer, wherein the housing comprises: at least one wall defining the aerosol chamber; a connecting portion by means of which the housing can extend outwardly from the housing defining the reservoir; one or more openings in at least one wall to allow the aerosolizable substrate material to enter the aerosol chamber from the reservoir and the aerosol to exit the aerosol chamber; and one or more openings in at least one wall allowing air to penetrate into the aerosol chamber.

According to a second aspect of some embodiments of the invention described herein, there is provided a cartridge for a vapor supply system comprising a shell according to the first aspect and a reservoir for an aerosolizable substrate material from which the shell extends.

According to a third aspect of some embodiments of the invention described in this document, a vapor delivery system or a cartridge for a vapor delivery system is provided, comprising a shell according to the first aspect, a reservoir containing an aerosolizable substrate material from which the shell protrudes, a mouthpiece with an outlet for inhaling an aerosol formed from the aerosolizable substrate material, a first sealing layer located above one or more openings of the shell, and a second sealing layer located above an outlet opening of the mouthpiece, wherein the sealing layers are intended to be removed by the user before using the vapor delivery system or cartridge.

According to a fourth aspect of some embodiments of the invention described herein, there is provided a cartridge according to the second aspect or a steam supply system according to the third aspect, comprising a housing defining a reservoir to which a shell is connected, wherein the connection is secured by adhesive or welding.

These and other aspects of some embodiments of the invention are set forth in the independent and dependent claims of the appended claims. It is understood that the features of the dependent claims can be combined with each other and with the features of the independent claims in combinations other than those expressly set forth in the claims. Moreover, the approach described in this document is not limited to specific embodiments, such as those set forth below, but includes and contemplates any suitable combinations of the features presented herein. For example, an atomizer shell or a vapor delivery system including an atomizer shell can be made in accordance with the approaches described in this document, a liquid storage tank and a component or system containing such a tank can be made that includes any one or more corresponding features described below.

Brief description of the drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the following drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of an example of an electronic cigarette comprising a cartomizer and a control unit;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of parts of an example of a cartomizer in which aspects of the invention can be implemented;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view with a partial cutaway of the cartomizer shown in Fig. 2, in assembled form;

Fig. 4, 4(A), 4(B) and 4(C) are simplified schematic cross-sections of another example of a cartomizer in which aspects of the invention may be implemented;

Fig. 5 is a highly schematic cross-sectional view of a first example of a steam supply system using induction heating in which aspects of the invention may be implemented;

Fig. 6 is a highly schematic cross-sectional view of a second example of a steam supply system using induction heating in which aspects of the invention may be implemented;

Fig. 7 is a highly schematic sectional view of a portion of the atomizer shell and the cartomizer reservoir body, connected to each other by means of a first exemplary device;

Fig. 8 is a highly schematic sectional view of a portion of the atomizer shell and the cartomizer reservoir body, connected to each other by means of a second exemplary device;

Fig. 9 is a highly schematic side view in section of a cartomizer with an atomizer shell made as a single piece, in accordance with the example;

Fig. 10 is a schematic side view in section of the atomizer shell with air intake holes in accordance with the example;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the atomizer shell with an air inlet valve in accordance with the example;

Fig. 12 is a highly simplified schematic side view in section of a cartomizer with sealing layers in accordance with the first example;

Fig. 13 is a highly simplified schematic side sectional view of a cartomizer with a sealing layer according to another example; and

Fig. 14 is a schematic side view in section of the atomizer shell with a pattern on the inner surface in accordance with the example.

Implementation of the invention

This document discusses/describes aspects and features of some examples and embodiments of the invention. Some aspects and features of some examples and embodiments of the invention may be implemented in a conventional manner, and for the sake of brevity, they are not discussed/described in detail. Thus, it is understood that aspects and features of the device and methods discussed herein that are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional technologies intended for implementing such aspects and features.

As described above, the present invention relates to, but is not limited to, electronic aerosol or vapor generation systems, such as electronic cigarettes. In the following description, the terms "e-cigarette" and "electronic cigarette" may sometimes be used; however, it is understood that these terms may be used interchangeably for an aerosol (vapor) delivery system or device. The systems are designed to generate an inhalable aerosol by vaporizing a substrate in the form of a liquid or gel, which may or may not contain nicotine. In addition, hybrid systems may comprise a liquid or gel substrate plus a solid substrate that is also heated. The solid substrate may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. The expression "aerosolizable substrate material" as used herein is intended to refer to substrate materials that can form an aerosol either by the application of heat or by some other means. The term "aerosol" may be used interchangeably with the term "vapor".

As used in this document, the term "component" is used to denote a part, section, unit, module, assembly or similar element of an electronic cigarette or similar device that includes several smaller parts or elements, possibly within an outer housing or wall. The electronic cigarette may be formed or constructed from one or more such components, wherein the components may be removable or separately connectable to each other or may be permanently connected to each other during manufacturing to form a complete electronic cigarette. The present disclosure is applicable (but not limited to) to systems comprising two components that can be separately connected to each other and which are designed, for example, as a component carrying an aerosolizable substrate material containing a liquid or other aerosolizable substrate material (a cartridge, cartomizer or consumable), and a control unit having a battery for supplying electrical power for operating an element generating vapor from the substrate material. To provide a specific example, the present description describes a cartomizer as an example of a part or component carrying an aerosolizable substrate material, but the description is not limited in this regard and is applicable to any configuration of a part or component carrying an aerosolizable substrate material. In addition, such a component may include more or fewer parts than those included in the examples.

The present disclosure particularly relates to vapor delivery systems and components thereof that utilize an aerosolizable substrate material in the form of a liquid or gel that is contained in a reservoir, tank, container, or other vessel contained in the system. There is a device for delivering the substrate material from the reservoir for delivering it for generating a vapor/aerosol. The terms "liquid," "gel," "fluid," "source liquid," "source gel," "source fluid," and the like may be used interchangeably with "aerosolizable substrate material" and "substrate material" to refer to an aerosolizable substrate material that is in a form that allows storage and delivery in accordance with the examples of the present disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a highly schematic view (not to scale) of a typical example of an aerosol/vapor delivery system, such as an electronic cigarette 10, presented for the purpose of illustrating the relationship between the various parts of the typical system and explaining the general principles of operation. The electronic cigarette 10 generally has an elongated shape, extending in this example along a longitudinal axis indicated by a dotted line, and includes two main components, namely, a control or feed component, section or unit 20, and a cartridge or section assembly 30 (sometimes referred to as a cartomizer or clearomizer), containing the aerosolizable substrate material and functioning as a vapor generating component.

The cartomizer 30 includes a reservoir 3 containing a source liquid or other aerosolizable substrate material containing a composition such as a liquid or gel from which an aerosol is obtained, for example, containing nicotine. As an example, the source liquid can contain from 1 to 3% nicotine and 50% glycerin, and the remaining part is approximately equal parts water and propylene glycol, and other components, such as flavorings, can also be present. A source liquid that does not contain nicotine can also be used, for example, to deliver a flavoring. A solid substrate (not shown) can also be contained, such as a portion of tobacco or another flavoring element, through which vapor generated from the liquid passes. The reservoir 3 is a storage reservoir and is a container or vessel in which the source liquid can be stored, so that the liquid can freely move and flow within the reservoir. For a consumable cartomizer, the reservoir 3 may be sealed after filling during manufacture, so that after the original liquid is finished, it can be thrown away, otherwise it may have an inlet or other opening through which the user can add new original liquid. The cartomizer 30 also contains an electric heating element or heater 4, located outside the reservoir 3 and designed to create an aerosol by evaporating the original liquid when heated. A liquid transfer or delivery device (liquid transfer element) such as a wick or other porous element 6 may be provided to deliver the initial liquid from the reservoir 3 to the heater 4. One or more parts of the wick 6 may be located inside the reservoir 3 or may communicate with the liquid in the reservoir 3 so that they can absorb the initial liquid and transfer it by means of a capillary suction effect or a capillary effect to other parts of the wick 6 that are adjacent to or in contact with the heater 4. In this way, this liquid is heated and evaporated so that its place is taken by new initial liquid from the reservoir for transfer to the heater 4 by the wick 6. The wick can be considered as a bridge, path or channel between the reservoir 3 and the heater 4, which supplies or transfers the liquid from the reservoir to the heater. Terms including channel, fluid passage, fluid transfer channel, fluid delivery channel, fluid transfer mechanism or element, and fluid delivery mechanism or element may be used interchangeably herein to refer to a wick or related component or structure.

The combination of the heater and the wick (or its analogue) is sometimes called an atomizer or an atomizer assembly, and the reservoir with the initial liquid and the atomizer together can be called an aerosol source. Other terminology can include a liquid delivery unit or a liquid transfer unit, and in the present context these terms can be used interchangeably to refer to a vapor-generating element (vapor generator) plus a wick or similar component or structure (a liquid transport element) that supplies or transfers liquid received from the reservoir to the vapor generator for generating vapor/aerosol. Various designs are possible, in which the components can be arranged differently than in the schematic representation in Fig. 1. For example, the wick 6 can be a completely separate element from the heater 4, or the heater 4 can be made porous and capable of directly performing at least part of the wicking function (for example, a metal mesh). In an electrical or electronic device, the vapor-generating element may be an electrical heating element that operates by ohmic/resistive (Joule) heating or by induction heating. Thus, in general, an atomizer may be considered as one or more elements that implement the functionality of a vapor-generating or evaporating element capable of generating vapor from a source liquid delivered thereto, and a liquid transport or delivery element capable of delivering or transporting liquid from a reservoir or similar liquid storage to a vapor generator by wick action/capillary force. The atomizer is typically located in a cartomizer component of a vapor-generating system. In some designs, liquid may be delivered from a reservoir directly to the vapor generator without the need for a separate wick or capillary element. Embodiments of the invention are applicable to all such configurations that are consistent with the examples and description herein.

Returning to Fig. 1, the cartomizer 30 also includes a mouthpiece or mouthpiece portion 35 having an opening or air outlet through which the user can inhale the aerosol obtained by the atomizer 4.

The power component or control unit 20 includes a galvanic cell or battery 5 (hereinafter referred to as a battery, which may be rechargeable) for supplying energy for the electrical components of the electronic cigarette 10, in particular for operating the heater 4. In addition, there is a controller 28, such as a printed circuit board and/or other electronic components or circuit, for general control of the electronic cigarette. The control electronics/circuit 28 controls the heater 4 using energy from the battery 5 if steam is required, for example in response to a signal from an air pressure sensor or an air flow sensor (not shown) that detects the execution of an inhalation through the system 10, during which air enters through one or more air inlets 26 in the wall of the control unit 20. When the heating element 4 operates, it vaporizes the initial liquid supplied from the reservoir 3 by the liquid delivery element 6 to form an aerosol, which is then inhaled by the user through an opening in the mouthpiece 35. When the user inhales through the mouthpiece 35, the aerosol is transferred from the aerosol source to the mouthpiece 35 along one or more air channels (not shown) that connect the air inlet 26 to the aerosol source and to the air outlet.

The control unit (power section) 20 and the cartomizer (cartridge assembly) 30 are separate connectable parts that can be separated from each other by separating them in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, as indicated by the double-headed arrows in Fig. 1. When using the device 10, the components 20, 30 are connected to each other by means of interacting connecting elements 21, 31 (for example, a threaded or bayonet connection), which provide a mechanical and, in some cases, electrical connection between the control section 20 and the cartridge assembly 30. An electrical connection is necessary if the heater 4 operates by ohmic heating, so that current can pass through the heater 4 when it is connected to the battery 5. In systems that use induction heating, the electrical connection can be excluded if the cartomizer 30 does not have parts that require electrical energy. The inductive working coil may be located in the power section 20 and is powered by the battery 5, and the cartomizer 30 and the power section 20 are shaped such that when they are connected, the heater 4 is subjected to the magnetic flux created by the coil to create an electric current in the material of the heater. Induction heating devices are discussed in more detail below. The structure shown in Fig. 1 is only an example of the device, and various parts and features may be distributed between the power section 20 and the cartridge 30 assembly in a different way, and other components and elements may also be present. The two sections may be connected to each other end to end in a longitudinal configuration, as in Fig. 1, or in another configuration, for example in parallel, side by side. The system may or may not be generally cylindrical and/or have a generally longitudinal shape. Each or both sections or components may be discarded and replaced after use (e.g., when the reservoir is empty or the battery is discharged), or may be intended for multiple use, which is possible, for example, by refilling the reservoir and recharging the battery. In other examples, the system 10 may be a single unit in the sense that parts of the control unit 20 and the cartomizer 30 are located in the same housing and cannot be separated. Embodiments and examples of the present invention are applicable to any of these configurations and to other configurations known to those skilled in the art.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the parts that can be assembled to form a cartomizer according to an example of the present invention. The cartomizer 40 consists of only four parts that can be assembled by pressing or pressing if they have the appropriate shape. Therefore, the manufacture can be very simple and understandable.

The first part is a housing 42, which defines a reservoir for storing an aerosolized substrate material (hereinafter referred to as a substrate or liquid for brevity). The housing 42 has a generally tubular shape, which in this example has a circular cross-section and contains a wall or walls, the shape of which defines various parts of the reservoir and other elements. A cylindrical outer side wall 44 is open at the lower end by an opening 46, through which the reservoir can be filled with liquid and to which parts can be attached, as described below, for closing / sealing the reservoir, as well as for providing delivery of liquid to the outside for evaporation. It defines the appearance, or the outer volume, or dimensions of the reservoir. References in this document to elements or parts lying or located outside the reservoir are intended to mean that the part is outside or partially outside the area limited or defined by this outer wall 44 and its upper and lower extension and edges or surfaces.

The cylindrical inner wall 48 is concentrically located inside the outer side wall 44. This design defines an annular volume 50 between the outer wall 44 and the inner wall 48, which is a receiver, cavity, void or the like for holding a liquid, in other words, a reservoir. The outer wall 44 and the inner wall 48 are connected to each other (for example, by an upper wall or walls tapering towards each other) to close the upper edge of the volume 50 of the reservoir. The inner wall 48 is open at the lower end by an opening 52, and also at the upper end. The tubular inner space defined by the inner wall is a passage or channel 54 for the air flow, which in the assembled system carries the formed aerosol from the atomizer to the mouthpiece outlet of the system for inhalation by the user. The opening 56 at the upper end of the inner wall 48 may be a mouthpiece outlet configured to fit comfortably in the user's mouth, or a separate mouthpiece portion may be attached to the body 42 having a channel connecting the opening 56 to the mouthpiece outlet or around it.

The housing 42 may be made of molded plastic, such as injection molding. In the example of Fig. 2, it is made of a transparent material; this allows the user to observe the level or amount of liquid in the reservoir 44. Alternatively, the housing may be opaque or opaque with a transparent window through which the liquid level can be seen. In some examples, the plastic may be rigid.

The second part of the cartomizer 40 is a flow guide 60, which in this example also has a circular cross-section, and also has a shape and configuration for engaging with the lower end of the housing 42. The flow guide 60 is actually a sleeve and is designed to perform several functions. When it is inserted into the lower end of the housing 42, it connects to the opening 46 to close and seal the reservoir volume 50, and connects to the opening 52 to isolate the air flow channel 54 from the reservoir volume 50. In addition, the flow guide 60 has at least one liquid flow channel passing through it, which transfers liquid from the reservoir volume 50 to a space external to the reservoir, which acts as an aerosol chamber, where a vapor/aerosol is generated by heating the liquid. Also, the flow guide element 60 has at least one other aerosol flow channel passing through it, which transfers the generated aerosol from the space of the aerosol chamber to the air flow channel 54 in the housing 42, so that it is delivered to the mouthpiece opening for inhalation.

In addition, the flow guide 60 may be made of a flexible elastic material, such as silicone, so that it can be easily engaged with the housing 46 by means of a friction fit. In addition, the flow guide has a socket or a formation of a similar shape (not shown) on its lower surface 62, opposite the upper surface or surfaces 64, which engage with the housing 42. The socket receives and supports the atomizer 70, which is the third part of the cartomizer 40.

The atomizer 70 has an elongated shape with a first end 72 and a second end 74 located opposite to each other relative to its length. In the assembled cartomizer, the atomizer is installed so that its first end 72 is inserted into a socket of the flow guide 60 in the direction towards the reservoir body 42. Thus, the first end 72 is supported by the flow guide 60, and the atomizer 70 extends in the longitudinal direction outward from the reservoir substantially along the longitudinal axis defined by the parts of the concentrically shaped body 42. The second end 74 of the atomizer 70 is not fixed and is left free. Accordingly, the atomizer 70 is supported in a cantilever manner so that it projects outward from the outer boundaries of the reservoir. The atomizer 70 performs a wick function and a heating function for forming an aerosol and may comprise any of several configurations of a portion of an electrically resistive heater configured to act as an inductive current collector and a porous portion configured to absorb liquid from a reservoir near the heater.

The fourth part of the cartomizer 40 is a shell or casing 80. Again, in this example it has a circular cross-section. It comprises a cylindrical side wall 81 closed by an optional base wall to form a central hollow space or cavity 82. An upper flange 84 of the side wall 81 around the opening 86 is shaped such that the shell 80 can be engaged with mutually shaped parts on the flow guide 60 and/or on the reservoir body 42, so that the shell 80 can be attached to the flow guide 60 or to the reservoir body 42 after the atomizer 70 has been inserted into the seat of the flow guide 60. In this way, the shell 80 is directly or indirectly connected to the reservoir body 42 so that it projects outwardly from it. The flow guide 60 acts as a cover that closes the central space 82, and this space 82 creates an aerosol chamber in which the atomizer 70 is located. The opening 86 provides communication with the liquid flow channel and the aerosol flow channel in the flow guide 60, so that the liquid can be supplied to the atomizer, and the formed aerosol can be removed from the aerosol chamber. In order for the air flow through the aerosol chamber to pass through the atomizer 70 and collect the vapor so that it is entrained by the air flow to form an aerosol, wherein the wall or walls 81 of the shell 80 have one or more openings or perforations that allow air to be drawn into the aerosol chamber when the user inhales through the mouthpiece opening of the cartomizer.

The shell 80 may be made of plastic, such as by injection molding. It may be made of a rigid material and then be easily engaged with the flow guide by pressing or squeezing the two parts together.

As noted above, the flow guide may be made of a flexible elastic material and may hold the parts connected to it, namely the body 42, the atomizer 70 and the shell 80, by means of a friction fit. Since these parts may be more rigid, the flexibility of the flow guide, which allows it to deform slightly when pressed against these other parts, compensates for any minor errors in the dimensions of the manufactured parts. In this way, the flow guide can compensate for the manufacturing tolerances of all the parts, while ensuring a high-quality assembly of the parts as a whole to form the cartomizer 40. In this way, the manufacturing requirements for the body 42, the atomizer 70 and the shell 80 can be somewhat relaxed, which reduces manufacturing costs.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view with a cutaway of the cartomizer shown in Fig. 1 in an assembled configuration. For clarity, the flow guide 60 is shaded. It will be seen that the flow guide 60 has its upper surfaces shaped to engage around an opening 52 formed by the lower edge of the inner wall 48 of the reservoir housing 42 and to concentrically outwardly engage an opening 46 defined by the lower edge of the outer wall 44 of the housing 42 to seal both the reservoir space 50 and the air flow passage 54.

The flow guide 60 has a liquid flow channel 63 that allows the liquid flow L to pass from the reservoir volume 50 through the flow guide into the space or volume 65 below the flow guide 60. In addition, there is an aerosol flow channel 66 that allows the aerosol and air A flow from the space 65 to pass through the flow guide 60 into the air flow channel 54.

The shell 80 has such a shape of its upper flange to engage with corresponding parts on the lower surface of the flow guide 60 to create an aerosol chamber 82 substantially outside the outer dimensions of the volume of the reservoir 50 in accordance with the body 42 of the reservoir. In this example, the shell 80 has an opening 87 at its upper end near the flow guide 60. It coincides with the space 65, with which the channel 63 for the flow of liquid and the channel 66 for the flow of aerosol communicate, and, therefore, allows liquid to enter the aerosol chamber 82 and the aerosol to exit the aerosol chamber 82 through the channels in the flow guide 60.

In this example, the opening 87 also acts as a seat for mounting the first, supported, end 74 of the atomizer 70 (recall that in the description of Fig. 2, the seat of the atomizer was mentioned as being formed in the flow guide, but any variant can be used). Thus, the liquid entering through the liquid flow channel 63 is supplied directly to the first end of the atomizer 70 for absorption and absorption, and air/aerosol can pass through the atomizer and through the aerosol flow channel 66.

In this example, the atomizer 70 comprises a flat, elongated metal portion 71 which is bent or curved at its midpoint so that the two ends of the metal portion are adjacent to each other at the first end of the atomizer 74. It acts as a heating element of the atomizer 70. A section of cotton or other porous material 73 is located between the two bent sides of the metal portion. It acts as a wick element of the atomizer 70. Liquid entering the space 65 is collected by the absorbency of the porous material 73 of the wick and is transferred downwards to the heater. Many other designs of an elongated atomizer suitable for console mounting are also possible and can be used instead of the above.

The heater component is designed for induction heating as described below.

The example in Figs. 2 and 3 has parts that are substantially circularly symmetrical in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal dimension of the assembled cartomizer. Consequently, the parts do not require any orientation in the planes in which they are connected to each other, which may simplify manufacturing. The parts may be assembled together in any orientation relative to the longitudinal axis, so there is no need to place the parts in a specific orientation before assembly. However, this is not necessary, and the parts may have alternative shapes.

Fig. 4 shows a cross-section of another example of an assembled cartomizer, comprising a reservoir housing, a flow guide, an atomizer and a housing, as before. However, in this example, in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cartomizer 40, at least some of the parts are oval in shape instead of circular in shape and are arranged so as to have symmetry along the major axis and the minor axis of the oval. The features are reflected on both sides of the major axis and on both sides of the minor axis. This means that for assembly, the parts can have either of two orientations, rotated relative to each other by 180° around the longitudinal axis. Again, assembly is simplified compared to a system consisting of parts that do not have symmetry.

In this example, the casing 80 again comprises a side wall 81 which is formed to have a different cross-section at different points along the longitudinal axis of the housing, and a base wall 83 defining a space which creates an aerosol chamber 82. Towards its upper end, the casing widens to a large cross-section to provide space for accommodating the flow guide 60. The portion of the casing 80 with the large cross-section has a generally oval cross-section (see Fig. 4(B)), while the portion with the narrower cross-section of the casing has a generally circular cross-section (see Fig. 4(C)). The upper flange 84 of the casing around the upper opening 86 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the housing 42 of the reservoir. This shape and engagement are shown in Fig. 4 in a simplified form; in reality, it will probably be more complex in order to provide a sufficiently airtight and liquid-tight connection. The shell 80 has at least one opening 85, in this case in the wall 83 of the base, to allow air to enter the aerosol chamber during inhalation of the user.

The housing 42 of the reservoir has a different shape compared to the example shown in Fig. 2 and 3. The outer wall 44 defines an internal space, which is divided into three regions by two inner walls 48. The regions are located side by side. The central region between the two inner walls 48 is a volume 50 of the reservoir for holding liquid. This region is closed from above by the upper wall of the housing. An opening 46 at the base of the volume of the reservoir allows liquid to be supplied from the reservoir 50 to the aerosol chamber 82. The two side regions between the outer wall 44 and the inner walls 48 are channels 54 for the air flow. Each of them has an opening 52 at the lower end for the entrance of the aerosol and a mouthpiece opening 56 at the upper end (as before, a separate mouthpiece part can be added from the outside to the housing 42 of the reservoir).

The flow guide 60 (shaded for clarity) enters the lower edge of the housing 42, engaging with the openings 46 and 52 in the housing 42 in their respective portions to close/seal the reservoir volume 50 and the air flow channels 54. The flow guide 60 has one centrally located liquid flow channel 63, aligned with the opening 46 of the reservoir volume, for transferring liquid L from the reservoir to the aerosol chamber 82. In addition, there are two aerosol flow channels 66, each of which extends from the inlet of the aerosol chamber 82 to the outlet in the air flow channels 54, through which air flows, entering the aerosol chamber through the opening 85 and entraining vapor from the aerosol chamber 82 into the air flow channels 54 to the outlet mouthpiece openings 56.

The atomizer 70 is installed by inserting its first end 72 into the channel 63 for the liquid flow of the flow guide element 60. Therefore, in this example, the channel 63 for the liquid flow acts as a seat for the cantilever installation of the atomizer 70. Thus, the first end 72 of the atomizer 70 is directly supplied with liquid entering the channel 60 for the liquid flow from the reservoir 50, wherein the liquid is taken up due to the porous properties of the atomizer 70 and drawn along the length of the atomizer for heating by means of the heating part of the atomizer 70 (not shown), which is located in the aerosol chamber 70.

Fig. 4(A), (B) and (C) show cross-sections of the cartomizer 40 at corresponding locations along the longitudinal axis of the cartomizer 40.

Although aspects of the invention relate to atomizers in which the heating aspect is realized by means of resistive heating, which requires making electrical connections to the heating element for the passage of current, the design of the cartomizer is particularly suitable for the use of induction heating. This is a process in which an electrically conductive element, usually made of metal, is heated by electromagnetic induction using eddy currents flowing in the element that generates heat. An induction coil (working coil) works as an electromagnet when a high-frequency alternating current from a generator is passed through it; this creates a magnetic field. If the conductive element is in the flow of the magnetic field, the field penetrates the element and induces electrical eddy currents. These flow in the element and generate heat in accordance with the flow of current against the electrical resistance of the element due to Joule heating, in the same way as heat is created in a resistive electric heating element by direct application of current. An attractive feature of induction heating is the lack of need for an electrical connection to the conductive element; instead, it requires that sufficient magnetic flux density be created in the area occupied by the object. In the context of vapor delivery systems, where heat generation is required near the liquid, this is advantageous because more efficient separation of the liquid and the electric current can be achieved. Assuming that there are no other electrically powered components in the cartomizer, there is no need for any electrical connection between the cartomizer and its power supply, and the cartomizer wall can provide a more effective barrier to the liquid, reducing the likelihood of leakage.

Induction heating is effective for direct heating of an electrically conductive object as described above, but can also be used for indirect heating of a non-conductive object. In a vapor delivery system, it is necessary to provide heat to the liquid in the porous capillary portion of the atomizer to cause it to evaporate. For indirect heating by induction, an electrically conductive element is placed near or in contact with the object to be heated, and between the working coil and the object to be heated. The working coil heats the conductive element directly by induction heating, and the heat is transferred by thermal radiation or conduction to the non-conductive element. In this device, the conductive element is called a susceptor. Therefore, in an atomizer, the heating component can be made of an electrically conductive material (usually metal), which is used as an induction susceptor to transfer thermal energy to the porous portion of the atomizer.

Fig. 5 shows a highly simplified schematic illustration of a vapor supply system comprising a cartomizer 40 according to examples of the present invention and a power component 20 designed to perform induction heating. The cartomizer 40 may be as shown in the examples of Figs. 2, 3 and 4 (although other devices are not excluded) and is shown in general terms only for the sake of simplicity. The cartomizer 40 comprises an atomizer 70 in which heating is obtained by induction heating, so that the heating function is provided by a current collector (not shown). The atomizer 70 is located in the lower part of the cartomizer 40, surrounded by a shell 80, which is designed not only to form an aerosol chamber, but also to provide a degree of protection for the atomizer 70, which may be relatively vulnerable to damage due to its cantilever mounting. However, the cantilever mounting of the atomizer 70 provides effective induction heating, since the atomizer 70 can be inserted into the inner space of the coil 90, in particular, the reservoir is located away from the inner space of the working coil 90. Therefore, the supply component 20 comprises a recess 22, in which the shell 80 of the cartomizer 40 is placed, when the cartomizer 40 is connected to the supply component for use (by means of, for example, a friction fit, a clamping action, a screw thread or a magnetic lock). The inductive working coil 90 is located in the supply component 20 so as to surround the recess 22, wherein the coil 90 has a longitudinal axis along which individual turns of the coil extend, and a length that substantially corresponds to the length of the current collector, so that the coil 90 and the current collector overlap when the cartomizer 40 and the supply component 20 are connected to each other. In other embodiments of the invention, the length of the coil may not substantially correspond to the length of the current collector, for example, the length of the current collector may be shorter than the length of the coil, or the length of the current collector may be longer than the length of the coil. Thus, the current collector is located inside the magnetic field created by the coil 90. If the elements are arranged so that the separation between the current collector and the surrounding coil is minimal, then the magnetic flux acting on the current collector can be higher, and the heating effect will be more effective. However, the separation is at least partially determined by the width of the aerosol chamber formed by the shell 80, the size of which must be such as to ensure adequate air flow over the atomizer and to avoid the capture of liquid droplets. Therefore, these two requirements must be balanced with each other when determining the dimensions and arrangement of the various elements.

The power component 20 comprises a battery 5 for supplying electrical energy for powering the coil 90 with an appropriate AC frequency. In addition, there is a controller 28 for controlling the supply of energy when steam generation is required and, possibly, for providing other control functions for the steam supply system that are not discussed here. The power component may also include other parts that are not shown and are not relevant to the present discussion.

The example in Fig. 5 is a linearly arranged system in which the power component 20 and the cartomizer 40 are connected end to end to form a handle shape.

Fig. 6 shows a simplified schematic representation of an alternative design in which the cartomizer 40 is a mouthpiece for a more box-like design in which the battery 5 is located in the power component 20 on one side of the cartomizer 40. Other designs are also possible.

The housing 80 is included in the cartomizer to perform a number of functions. These include protecting the atomizer 70, which is potentially vulnerable to damage due to its cantilevered mounting used to improve the inductive coupling between the atomizer 70 and the inductive working coil of the vapor delivery system. The housing also partially or completely encloses the aerosol chamber around the atomizer, in which the aerosol is formed based on the evaporation of liquid by the atomizer and the flow of incoming air through the housing. If the housing is completely or partially closed at the lower end (e.g. by an end wall), it can act as a sump for collecting liquid. This can reduce the leakage of free liquid from the cartomizer in the event that any liquid exits the reservoir without entering the porous portion of the atomizer, or if free liquid is formed in the aerosol chamber due to condensation of the vapor.

The body may include any features related to the performance of these and other functions.

As described above, the shell may have specially shaped features on its upper flange that interact with correspondingly shaped features on another part of the cartomizer, in particular on the reservoir body or the flow guide, or possibly with both of these parts. For example, the shell may have one or more flanges or similar protruding features that fit into recesses of a similar shape and size on the body or the flow guide, or vice versa, so that the two parts can be pressed together in a snap-fitting manner. Alternatively, if the engagement areas have a circular cross-section, the parts may be connected using a screw thread, but this is less attractive from the point of view of ease of assembly during manufacture of the cartomizer.

It may be desirable to prevent the user from refilling the reservoir after the liquid has been used up, in order to reuse the cartomizer. This may be the case, for example, for safety reasons. Accordingly, in some examples, the specially shaped elements by which the shell is connected, interlocked or otherwise attached to the reservoir body or the flow guide may be configured to prevent such reuse. In other words, the shape is configured either to prevent the shell from being easily removed after it has been connected to the rest of the cartomizer during manufacture, or to prevent the shell from being reconnected to the rest of the cartomizer if the user manages to remove it, or both. For example, the interacting elements may be shaped such that the parts can be easily pressed together, but do not allow them to be separated. For example, the shape may be inclined inward in the direction of the connection, but include elements with serrations that prevent pulling outward for separation. Alternatively or in addition, the shape may be such that the shaped elements break, tear, crack, deform or otherwise become damaged by the pulling force applied when attempting to separate the shell from the rest of the cartomizer, such that the shell cannot be reattached. Intentionally thinned or otherwise brittle areas may be included in the shape elements to facilitate this type of structural failure.

Fig. 7 shows a simplified sectional view of a portion of the shell connected to the tank body by means of a joint shaped to ensure destruction to prevent reuse. The tank body 42 has a connecting flange 92 inclined inwardly and upwardly at its lower edge. The shell 80 has a connecting flange 94 inclined downwardly and outwardly at its upper edge or edge 84. The materials of the two flanges 42, 80 are such that they allow a slight bending, so that the connecting flanges 92, 94 can be deformed sufficiently to slide over each other and return to their original position when the shell 80 is put on the tank body 42 or inserted into it, thereby connecting or binding the shell 80 to the body 42. The inclination of the connecting flanges 92, 94 prevents outward pulling to separate the shell 80 from the tank body 42, so that the two parts are effectively snapped together. In addition, the connecting flange 94 of the shell has a region 96 between the connecting flange 94 and the main side wall 81 of the shell 80, which is thinner than the adjacent portions, so that under the action of pulling to remove the shell 80, this thinner region 96 will break or split under the action of a sufficient separating force, so that the connecting portion 94 will separate from the wall 81 of the shell, and the shell cannot be reconnected or re-linked to the tank 42 after it is detached.

Alternatively, to prevent reuse and refilling, in other words to make the cartomizer tamper-proof, the shell can be permanently bonded to the tank body or flow guide by gluing or welding (e.g. ultrasonic welding or laser welding), depending on the materials used for the various parts. This will prevent the shell from being easily removed, so that access to the inside of the tank for refilling is also impossible.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a simplified sectional view of a portion of the shell connected to the reservoir body by means of a permanent connection to prevent reuse. Both the reservoir body 42 and the shell 80 have a flange 92, 94 for connection, as before. However, in this case, the flanges 92, 94 do not interlock with each other, as in the example of Fig. 7. Rather, they are shaped so that each has a flat surface that abuts against a flat surface of the other flange when the shell 80 and the reservoir body 42 are brought together. Adhesive may be applied to one or both flat surfaces, or welding may be used to fuse the flat surfaces together to create a bond 98 between the two parts that prevents removal of the shell 80 from the cartomizer.

It will be appreciated that any moulded portions included to enable the shell to be joined may have a shape different from that shown in the examples of Figs. 7 and 8 to achieve the same or similar effects.

In these various examples, the shell is a separate component from the reservoir body, with the two elements being joined together during the manufacture of the cartomizer. However, this is not essential, and the shell may alternatively be formed as a single unit with the reservoir body (or, alternatively, with the flow guide element), for example by injection moulding a component of a suitable shape.

The manufacture of a cartomizer by assembling various parts together requires inserting the first end of the atomizer into a socket to ensure cantilever mounting. Accordingly, in configurations where the shell is formed as a single unit with another part of the cartomizer, an opening large enough to allow the installation of the atomizer is required in the outer wall of the shell. The shell cannot be completely or entirely closed by a side wall and a bottom wall, as in the examples in Fig. 3 and 4, since this does not provide access for installing the atomizer. A flow guide must also be included. For example, the shell may be missing a bottom wall to install the atomizer.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic sectional view of an example of a cartomizer in which the shell is formed as a single piece. The reservoir body 42 is the same as in the example of Fig. 3, with an annular reservoir 50 around a central passage 54 for the air flow. However, the outer side wall 44 of the reservoir body 42 extends downwardly beyond the place where the flow guide 60 is inserted to seal the base of the reservoir 50 and the air flow channel 54. The downward extension can be considered as forming a shell 80 in this embodiment, which is open at the base, but surrounds the atomizer 70 mounted in the flow guide 60. The shell 80 is formed as a skirt extending from the edge of the base of the reservoir body 42. The shell 80 of such a shape still defines an aerosol chamber 82 around the atomizer 70, and the lower boundary of the aerosol chamber can be defined by a recess in the power component into which the cartomizer is inserted, as in the examples shown in Fig. 5 and 6. In further embodiments of the invention, the housing 42 can extend downwards, as shown in Fig. 9, but a separate shell 80, for example such as shown in Fig. 4, can be connected to the inner wall of the housing 42. The inner wall can have a corresponding connecting part to ensure the engagement of the separate shell 80. The extended walls 42 of the reservoir housing can provide protection for the separate shell 80 and/or prevent the user from easily accessing the separate shell 80 (for example, by grasping the lower part of the shell 80 with the fingers). In addition, the extended reservoir body may provide a more attractive and/or familiar appearance to the cartomizer 40. In embodiments of the invention having an extended reservoir body 42, the feed section 20 may have a recessed portion on its outer surface generally corresponding to the location of the coil 90, so that when the cartomizer 40 and the feed section are connected, the feed section body and the extended reservoir body form a flush connection.

Therefore, there are many ways in which the shell can be connected or attached to the body of the tank in order to extend outward from the outer boundary of the tank and surround the atomizer. The part of the shell that is adjacent to the body of the tank and by which expansion is provided or in which expansion is implemented may be called the connecting part, and as discussed, this may be a permanent connection or a connection between separate components, which in turn may be disposable or reusable.

As described above, in particular with reference to the example in Fig. 3, the shell may include a seat in which the atomizer is inserted. Alternatively, the seat may be formed in a flow guide element which, in turn, is arranged in a corresponding manner with respect to the shell for cantilevered placement of the atomizer. The seat supports the atomizer, so that the component or part of the component in which the seat is formed may be considered as a support part. Therefore, the support part may be contained in the shell in the sense that it is formed as a single unit with the shell, or may be a separate component, such as a flow guide element, which is connected to the shell or to the housing.

In order to provide the necessary air flow through the cartomizer, by which air passes through the atomizer and beyond and collects the resulting vapor to form an aerosol for delivery to the user through the airflow channel from the cartomizer, it is necessary for air to enter the aerosol chamber defined by the shell. Accordingly, the shell must not create an airtight environment when connected to the body of the tank. There must be at least one opening in the wall or walls of the shell through which air is drawn into the shell when the user inhales through the mouthpiece outlet of the cartomizer. There are several ways to create an air inlet opening.

In the example of Fig. 9, the shell formed as a single unit with the tank body has no base wall, so that the atomizer and the flow guide can be located inside the cartomizer. Accordingly, the absence of the base wall creates a large air intake hole in the shell wall. This approach can also be used in examples where the shell is a separate component connected to the tank body; the open base is not limited to the shell formed as a single unit.

In examples where the shell has a base wall, the holes may be in the base wall. The base wall is an effective air intake location because it allows air to flow along the entire longitudinal length of the atomizer to collect the maximum amount of vapor.

Fig. 10 shows a side sectional view of the shell 80, which includes three openings 85 in the base wall 83. Any number of openings may be provided in the base wall; for example, in the example of Fig. 4, there is one opening 85. Alternatively or in addition, openings 85 may be provided in the side wall 81 of the shell 80, as shown in Fig. 10. The arrangement of the openings 85 at or toward the bottom of the side wall 81 allows the drawn air to travel a long path through the aerosol chamber for maximum vapor collection.

If the enclosure has no base wall or has significant openings (i.e., openings that allow liquid to flow through the openings unimpeded) in its base wall or side wall, the enclosure may leak any free liquid that enters the enclosure either from the reservoir or from vapor/aerosol condensation. To reduce such leakage, openings may be configured in various ways.

For example, the holes in the wall(s) of the shell may be made small enough to be permeable to air to allow air flow in, but substantially impermeable to liquid to prevent liquid flow out (which is liquid leakage). The impermeability is due to the surface tension of the liquid. Therefore, the appropriate size of the hole in the wall(s) of the shell will depend on factors including the viscosity of the liquid with which the reservoir is filled. Typically, the holes may be smaller than the capillary length of the liquid when used in a cartomizer. A thicker or more viscous liquid may be used with larger holes, so that fewer holes are required for a given air inlet. A thinner or less viscous liquid must be used with smaller holes, so that more holes may be required for an adequate level of air suction. Therefore, the small holes in the wall(s) of the shell may be made in the form of a plurality of holes and may be considered as perforations. The holes may be evenly distributed along the walls of the housing or may be concentrated towards the base, similar to the larger holes shown in Fig. 10.

In addition, small holes can be made more impermeable to liquid by covering them with a hydrophobic material. This way, the liquid is repelled from the holes and does not flow out through the holes. The holes are also kept free of liquid so that air can enter and the required level of air suction is maintained.

Alternatively, the opening or openings may be permeable to air and substantially impermeable to liquid if they are provided with a valve that can open to allow air to enter the chamber but remain closed against the outward flow of liquid. This is easily achieved in the context of a cartomizer, since inhalation in a vapor delivery system draws air in the desired inward direction. Consequently, when the user inhales, the air pressure inside the shell drops and becomes lower than the air pressure outside the shell, with the valve opening in response to this pressure difference, allowing air to be drawn into the lower pressure interior of the shell. Conversely, the amount of liquid that can accumulate inside the shell will be small, so that there will be insufficient pressure inside the shell to cause the valve to open outward and allow liquid to escape. However, it may be desirable to use a one-way valve that is configured not to open outward, to prevent liquid from being forced out of the chamber if the user blows into the cartomizer rather than inhaling.

Any suitable type of valve may be used for this purpose. However, for ease of manufacture and simplicity of design, a valve may be made in the base wall of the shell by making the base wall of an elastomeric material (elastomer) and cutting the valve into it. The valve may have a simple cross shape, for example with two intersecting slits.

Fig. 11 shows a plan view of the shell 80, viewed from below, with a valve 100 cut into the base wall. The segments 100a of the valve 100 can be deformed due to the flexibility of the elastomeric material, so that air is drawn in when the user inhales. However, the pressure of any free liquid that may accumulate inside the housing will be insufficient to open the valve outward and allow the liquid to escape.

In shell configurations where the bottom is effectively sealed to liquid flow (e.g. solid base wall, valve in base wall, holes impermeable to liquid flow), the shell can be considered to act as a sump. It can collect any free liquid in its bottom portion and prevent it from leaking out of the cartomizer. In this way, the overall leakage from the cartomizer and the vapor delivery system in which the cartomizer is used can be reduced, and liquid can be prevented from leaking into the power component where it can damage the electrical components of the vapor delivery system.

An additional approach to minimizing leakage of liquid from a cartomizer concerns leaks that may occur prior to use of the cartomizer, between filling the reservoir during manufacture and connecting the cartomizer to the power component for use in generating an aerosol. Assuming that the connections between the various parts of the cartomizer are substantially sealed, the cartomizer has locations vulnerable to liquid leakage at the mouthpiece outlet and at any openings in the body, as described above. To reduce leakage prior to use, the cartomizer may be provided with seals or the like that cover one or more openings or apertures and that can be removed by the user prior to use of the cartomizer.

Fig. 12 shows a simplified schematic side view in section of a typical cartomizer with seals of this type. The cartomizer 40 has an outlet mouthpiece opening 56 at the upper end of the reservoir body 42 and an opening 85 for air intake in the wall 83 of the base of the shell 80. Each of these openings is provided with a removable sealing layer 102, for example, in the form of a peel-off adhesive label that can be removed by the user. For example, each sealing layer 102 can have a tab, a tear-off tab, a tear-off strip or tear-off tape 104, etc., with which the sealing layer 102 can be grasped and pulled for removal. The same design can be used for the openings 85 in other places of the shell 80. If more than one opening 85 is provided, then a separate sealing layer 102 can be provided for each. Alternatively, the sealing layer can be applied not to all the openings and the outlet opening, but, for example, only to the openings in the shell. In examples where more than one sealing layer is used, a common tear-off tab/tear strip can be used, common to all sealing layers, by means of which all sealing layers can be removed by a single pulling action.

Fig. 13 shows a simplified schematic side sectional view of a typical cartomizer with an alternative sealing design. In this example, a single sealing layer 102 with a tongue 104 covers both the opening 85 of the shell and the outlet mouthpiece opening 56 (and is glued to the intermediate parts of the cartomizer surface). Thus, all openings can be opened for use by removing one sealing layer, which can be more convenient for the user and ensures that the cartomizer is properly prepared for use, since it is impossible to remove not all seals.

If desired, sealing layers without tabs can be used.

As described, when using the vapor delivery system to produce aerosol, air is drawn into the vapor collection chamber generated by the atomizer in the aerosol chamber to entrain the vapor with the air flow to deliver the aerosol to the mouthpiece outlet. The collection of vapor by the air flow and the formation of aerosol can be improved if the air flow is less smooth.

Fig. 14 shows a simplified schematic side view of a shell configured to improve aerosol formation due to a disturbed air flow. The shell 80 may be configured in accordance with any previous example or otherwise configured in accordance with the features described in this document. As before, it has an outer side wall 81. In this example, the inner surface 81a of the outer side wall 81 is provided with surface features 106 in the form of bulges, ridges, protrusions or another surface pattern that disrupts the inner surface 81a and prevents it from being smooth. The presence of the pattern on the surface disrupts or otherwise impedes the air flow between the opening(s) 85 and the opening 86 through which the aerosol exits the aerosol chamber. Thus, turbulence or similar disturbance is created in the air flow. This increases the interaction of the air with the vapor in the aerosol chamber to increase the formation of the aerosol. The dimensions of the surface features 106 should be such that they have a noticeable effect on the air flow, and also maintain a sufficient distance between the atomizer and the inner surface 91a so that the liquid droplets can move freely together with the passing air. Alternatively or in addition, the atomizer itself can have surface features in the form of bulges, ridges, protrusions or other surface pattern that disrupts the surface of the current collector. The air flow passes between the inner surface of the shell 81 and the outer surface of the atomizer containing the current collector (heater) and / or porous (wick) material, and, therefore, any or all of these components can include features that create some turbulence, disturbance or disruption of the air flow when it is drawn from the bottom of the shell through the atomizer. Such surface features can be considered as obstructing the flow.

Therefore, an embodiment of the invention provides a cartridge or cartomizer for a vapor supply system, comprising: an elongated atomizer for vaporizing an aerosolizable substrate material; a shell at least partially surrounding the elongated atomizer to form an aerosol chamber around the atomizer; an air flow path through the aerosol chamber, which is formed between the inner surface of the shell and the outer surface of the elongated atomizer along at least a portion of the longitudinal extension of the atomizer; and at least one flow-disturbing element on the inner surface of the shell and/or the outer surface of the elongated atomizer, configured to disturb the air flow along the air flow path.

In conclusion, in order to solve various problems and to develop the state of the art, various embodiments by means of which the invention can be practiced are shown in this disclosure by way of example. The advantages and features of the disclosure are merely representative examples of embodiments of the invention and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to facilitate understanding and to convey the ideas of the claimed invention. It is understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures and/or other aspects of the disclosure should not be considered as limitations of the disclosure defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents of the claims, and that other embodiments can be used and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Various embodiments can suitably comprise, consist of or essentially consist of various combinations of the described elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those described herein. The invention can include other inventions not explicitly claimed, but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims (30)

1. A cartridge for the steam supply system containing: a reservoir for an aerosolized substrate material, the reservoir being limited by a housing; an atomizer for converting the aerosolizable substrate material from the reservoir into an aerosol, wherein the atomizer is located outside the external dimensions of the reservoir; and a shell at least partially surrounding the atomizer to form an aerosol chamber around the atomizer, the shell comprising: at least one wall defining an aerosol chamber, wherein the at least one wall includes a side wall defining a central space that creates the aerosol chamber outside the external dimensions of the reservoir; a connecting part by means of which the shell is connected to the body so that it projects outward from the body; one or more openings in at least one wall to allow aerosolizable substrate material to enter the aerosol chamber from the reservoir and aerosol to exit the aerosol chamber; and one or more openings in at least one wall allowing air to enter the aerosol chamber. 2. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the connecting part comprises one or more shaped parts for connecting the shell directly or indirectly to the body. 3. The cartridge according to claim 2, wherein one or more shaped parts are designed to prevent the shell from being reconnected to the body in the event that the shell has been separated from the body. 4. The cartridge according to item 1, wherein the connecting part is made as a single unit with the housing. 5. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shell additionally comprises a support portion for supporting the atomizer in the aerosol chamber. 6. A cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the support portion is located at the end of the shell, and the connecting portion continues the shell from the body to support the atomizer at one of its ends so that the atomizer extends outward to a free cantilever end remote from the reservoir. 7. A cartridge according to item 5 or 6, in which the supporting part is made as a single unit with the shell. 8. A cartridge according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the support portion is a separate component designed to be connected to the shell and/or the body. 9. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the support portion further comprises at least one fluid flow channel for flowing aerosolized substrate material from the reservoir to the atomizer and at least one aerosol flow channel exiting the atomizer into the air flow channel. 10. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein one or more openings comprise a plurality of perforations. 11. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one wall further includes an end wall of the shell remote from the connecting portion, and wherein one or more openings comprise at least one valve in the end wall capable of opening for a flow of air entering the aerosol chamber. 12. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein at least the end wall is made of an elastomeric material, and the valve comprises intersecting slots in the end wall. 13. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one wall further includes an end wall of the shell remote from the connecting portion, wherein one or more openings comprise an opening in the end wall to allow air entering the aerosol chamber to pass through the atomizer. 14. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which further comprises surface patterns on the inner surface of at least one wall, configured to disrupt the flow of air entering through one or more openings. 15. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 14, which further comprises a removable sealing layer located over one or more openings and designed to be removable by the user before using the cartridge in a steam supply system. 16. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the shell is connected to the body at the connecting part by means of a connection made using glue or welding. 17. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 15, which further comprises a mouthpiece with an outlet opening for inhaling an aerosol formed from an aerosolizable substrate material, a first sealing layer located above one or more openings of the shell, and a second sealing layer located above the outlet opening of the mouthpiece, wherein the sealing layers are intended to be removed by the user before using the cartridge. 18. The cartridge of claim 17, wherein the first sealing layer and the second sealing layer are a single common sealing layer. 19. The cartridge of claim 17, which further comprises a common tear-off strip or tear-off tape allowing the user to remove both the first sealing layer and the second sealing layer. 20. A steam supply system comprising a cartridge according to any one of paragraphs. 1-15. 21. The system of claim 20, which further comprises a mouthpiece with an outlet opening for inhaling an aerosol formed from an aerosolizable substrate material, a first sealing layer located above one or more openings of the shell, and a second sealing layer located above the outlet opening of the mouthpiece, wherein the sealing layers are intended to be removed by the user before using the steam supply system. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the first sealing layer and the second sealing layer are a single common sealing layer. 23. The system of claim 21, which further comprises a common tear strip or tear tape that allows the user to remove both the first sealing layer and the second sealing layer.

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