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US20250072502A1 - Vapour Generating Device - Google Patents

Vapour Generating Device Download PDF

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Publication number
US20250072502A1
US20250072502A1 US18/294,008 US202218294008A US2025072502A1 US 20250072502 A1 US20250072502 A1 US 20250072502A1 US 202218294008 A US202218294008 A US 202218294008A US 2025072502 A1 US2025072502 A1 US 2025072502A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
baffles
bore
generating device
mouthpiece
vapour generating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
US18/294,008
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Alec Wright
Andrew Robert John ROGAN
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
JT International SA
Original Assignee
JT International SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by JT International SA filed Critical JT International SA
Assigned to JT INTERNATIONAL S.A. reassignment JT INTERNATIONAL S.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ROGAN, Andrew Robert John, WRIGHT, Alec
Publication of US20250072502A1 publication Critical patent/US20250072502A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/48—Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
    • A24F40/485—Valves; Apertures
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/48—Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to vapour generating devices, and more particularly to vapour generating devices comprising movable baffles for preventing the passage of non-vaporised liquid drops to the mouth of a user.
  • Vapour generating devices such as electronic cigarettes have become popular as substitutes for traditional means of tobacco consumption such as cigarettes and cigars.
  • Some vapour generating devices generate a vapour or aerosol from a vaporisable liquid, for example using a heater coil which applies heat to a liquid held in a wick in order to vaporize the liquid.
  • Spitting of liquid can occur when liquid builds up on the heater coil and instead of the liquid being fully vaporised, large droplets are ejected into the air stream and inhaled by the user. This is often felt by hot liquid reaching the consumer's oral cavity, which can be an unpleasant experience. Larger puffs by the user are more likely to result in spitting due to the higher air velocity carrying droplets to the user's mouth. Furthermore the larger force pulls on the liquid in the reservoir and thus oversaturates the wick and heater coil, leading to subsequent spitting events.
  • the movable baffles of the device advantageously prevent hot drops of non-vaporised liquid from reaching the mouthpiece, while directing the vapour to the mouthpiece. More particularly, the movable baffles function as a barrier to block the larger, heavier hot drops of liquid, while guiding the smaller, lighter vapour particles along a circuitous path to the mouthpiece. In this way, the user obtains the vapour as desired without the unwanted hot drops of non-vaporised liquid.
  • baffle refers to any structural element which is movable (or at least a part of which is movable) to partially obstruct the width of the bore.
  • the baffle may be constructed from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, plastics, natural or synthetic rubbers, and metals or metal alloys, or any combination of these.
  • the baffle may be rigid or flexible, or a combination of rigid and flexible.
  • the first and second baffles may be movable so that in combination the first and second baffles obstruct the full width of the bore such as to preclude a direct line of sight along the bore between the mouthpiece and the heater.
  • Each one of the first and second baffles may be movable to obstruct half of the width of the bore.
  • At least one of the first and second baffles may be movable to obstruct more than half of the width of the bore.
  • Each one of the first and second baffles may be movable to obstruct more than half of the width of the bore.
  • Each one of the first and second baffles may be movable to obstruct less than half of the width of the bore.
  • Each one of the first and second baffles may be hingedly connected to an interior wall of the tubular body.
  • Each one of the first and second baffles may comprise a generally rigid panel which includes a thinned flexible portion that forms said hinged connection.
  • the interior wall of the tubular body may comprise first and second recesses each configured to accommodate one of the first and second baffles such that the width of the bore is unobstructed by the first and second baffles, the first and second baffles being movable from the recesses by the suction force in order to partially obstruct the width of the bore as described herein above.
  • the bore may have a cross-section, taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, which is circular, oval, or elliptical.
  • the heater may be located in the bore.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a cross-section of a part of a vapour generating device in accordance with the invention.
  • FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show positions of baffles of the device at differing stages of use.
  • a vapour generating device 10 comprises a tubular body 12 having a bore 14 which extends along a central longitudinal (or vertical) axis Z.
  • the tubular body 12 and the bore 14 are circular in cross-section.
  • the bore has a length (or height) of about 29 mm and a diameter of about 3 mm and a cross-sectional area of about 7 mm 2 .
  • the tubular body 12 is constructed from plastics.
  • a first (or upper) part or end of the tubular body 12 comprises a mouthpiece 16 (the structural details of which are omitted from the drawings) configured for engagement with the mouth of a consumer or user of the device.
  • a wick 18 is located at a second (or lower) part of the tubular body 12 and extends across the bore 14 in a transverse (or horizontal or X-Y) direction, i.e. substantially normal to the longitudinal axis Z.
  • a storage reservoir or tank 20 containing an e-liquid L is formed within the wall 24 of the tubular body 12 and is arranged to be in fluid communication with the wick 18 so that the wick 18 can receive and absorb the e-liquid L by means of capillary action.
  • a metallic heater coil 26 extends around the wick 18 and is operable to vaporize the e-liquid L held by the wick 18 .
  • the bore 14 defines a flow channel for flow of the vapour from the heater coil 26 (and the wick 18 ) to the mouthpiece 16 for inhalation by the user.
  • the vapour generating device 10 further comprises first and second baffles 28 , 30 located in the bore 14 between the heater coil 26 (and the wick 18 ) and the mouthpiece 16 .
  • the first and second baffles 28 , 30 are offset or staggered apart from each other in the vertical direction, i.e. along the longitudinal axis Z. That is, the first and second baffles 28 , 30 are at differing axial locations along the bore 14 , i.e. they are axially separated. Put differently, the first and second baffles 28 , 30 are located in differing transverse (or horizontal or X-Y) planes. As can be seen in FIG.
  • the first baffle 28 is located nearer to the heater coil 26 than is the second baffle 30 while the second baffle 30 is located nearer to the mouthpiece 16 than is the first baffle 28 .
  • the first baffle 28 is located axially below the second baffle 30 and the second baffle 30 is located axially above the first baffle 28 .
  • each of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 comprises a panel part 28 a , 30 a and a hinge part 28 b , 30 b which connects the panel part 28 a , 30 a to the inner surface of the wall 24 of the tubular body 12 .
  • Each of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 projects inwardly into the bore 14 toward the longitudinal axis Z.
  • the first and second baffles 28 , 30 are constructed from plastics.
  • the panel parts 28 a , 30 a are generally rigid.
  • the hinge parts 28 b , 30 b comprise locally thinned portions of the baffles 28 , 30 which are sufficiently flexible so as to allow movement or deflection of each panel part 28 a , 30 a relative to the tubular body 12 under an applied force, as will be described later herein.
  • the first and second baffles 28 , 30 may therefore be described as hinged flaps.
  • the first and second baffles 28 , 30 are in an un-deflected or un-deployed condition.
  • a suction force F is applied by the user via the mouthpiece 16 .
  • the suction force F causes the panel parts 28 a , 30 a of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 to swing inwardly and upwardly away from the inner surface of the wall 24 of the tubular body 12 .
  • the first and second baffles 28 , 30 are moved into a deflected or deployed condition.
  • each of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 partially obstructs the width of the bore 14 . That is, each of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 obstructs or blocks a portion of the bore in the transverse (or horizontal or X-Y) direction.
  • each of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 obscures a view taken through the bore 14 along the longitudinal axis Z between the mouthpiece 16 and the heater coil 26 .
  • the vapour V which is produced comprises particles having small size and mass.
  • each particle may have a diameter of ⁇ 10 ⁇ m.
  • These small and light particles are drawn along the bore 14 under the suction force F to follow a tortuous or curved path around the first and second baffles 28 , 30 (as represented by the dotted arrow lines in FIG. 2 a ) so as to reach the mouthpiece 16 and thereby the user's mouth.
  • the particles of the vapour V would flow generally parallel with the longitudinal axis Z, from the heater coil 26 to the mouthpiece 16 .
  • the presence of the obstructive first and second baffles 28 , 30 causes a deviation or diversion of the flow of the vapour V, such that the motion of the particles has a significant transverse (or lateral) component as well as a longitudinal component.
  • the particles of the vapour V are navigated around and between the first and second baffles 28 , 30 in order to reach the mouthpiece 16 .
  • the flow of the vapour V bends or turns around the first and second baffles 28 , 30 such as to take a circuitous route to the mouthpiece 16 .
  • the vapour V will be produced by the heater coil 26 substantially across the width of the bore 14 . Since the first and second baffles 28 extend inwardly toward the longitudinal axis Z, the particles of the vapour V that are further away (i.e. more laterally spaced) from the longitudinal axis Z will tend to follow a longer and more tortuous path (i.e. have a greater lateral component of motion) than will the particles of the vapour V that are closer to the longitudinal axis Z.
  • each drop Ld 1 , Ld 2 may have a diameter of about 0.1 mm
  • Heat energy in the drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 causes the drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 to be rapidly ejected or “spat” from the heater coil 26 in the longitudinal (or vertical) direction toward the mouthpiece 16 (as shown by the solid arrows in FIG. 2 a ).
  • the ejected drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 tend not to be drawn with the vapour V into the tortuous path around the first and second baffles 28 , 30 , due to the relatively high velocity and larger mass of the drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 in comparison with the particles of the vapour V. Instead the drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 pass rapidly along the bore 14 in a direction which is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis Z.
  • the motion of the drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 is in a substantially longitudinal direction with a negligible transverse (or lateral) component, at least in comparison with the motion of the particles of the vapour V.
  • the drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 take a generally linear and non-circuitous route along the bore 14 .
  • the larger, heavier drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 advance along the bore 14 in this linear fashion, they impact upon and are stopped by the undersides of the panel parts 28 a , 30 a of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 (as represented by the solid lines of drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 in FIG. 2 a ).
  • the drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 are prevented from progressing to the mouthpiece 16 and therefore do not reach the user's mouth.
  • the deflected first and second baffles 28 , 30 provide a barrier which blocks the drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 so as to prevent them from reaching the mouthpiece 16 , while at the same time providing a tortuous route for the vapour V to follow in order to reach the mouthpiece 16 . In this way, the user obtains the vapour V as desired without the unwanted hot drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 of non-vaporised e-liquid.
  • the first and second baffles 28 , 30 are configured so that, at a maximum expected magnitude of suction force F, the panel parts 28 a , 30 a will be deflected so as to be at right angles with the vertical inner surface of the wall 24 (and the longitudinal axis Z) of the tubular body 12 . That is, so that each of the fully deflected panel parts 28 a , 30 a extends partially across the bore 14 in the transverse (or horizontal or X-Y) direction.
  • first and second baffles 28 , 30 are configured such that the distal ends of the panel parts 28 a , 30 a will coincide with the longitudinal axis Z when the panel parts 28 a , 30 a are in the fully deflected (horizontal) condition.
  • each of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 will obstruct 50% of the width of the bore 14 , so that together the first and second baffles 28 , 30 will fully obscure the view along the bore 14 such as to preclude a direct line of sight between the mouthpiece 16 and the heater coil 26 .
  • the deflected first and second baffles 28 , 30 provide a barrier having maximum coverage across the bore 14 for preventing the passage of the drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 to the mouthpiece 16 . It will be understood, however, that the fully deflected first and second baffles 28 , 30 do not block or close off the flow of the vapour V to the mouthpiece 16 . On the contrary, the longitudinally-staggered arrangement of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 allows for the vapour V to follow a tortuous path around and between the first and second baffles 28 to the mouthpiece 16 , as has been described herein above.
  • the user ceases to apply the suction force F at the mouthpiece 16 once the vapour V has been inhaled.
  • the heater coil 26 is de-activated, either automatically or manually, so as to halt the production of vapour V. Due to the cessation of the suction force F the first and second baffles 28 , 30 swing back outwardly and downwardly toward the inner surface of the wall 24 of the tubular body 12 . Thus the first and second baffles 28 , 30 are returned to the un-deflected or un-deployed condition.
  • the returning motion of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 is due to gravity, under the weight of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 , and the weight of any drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 of e-liquid which have accumulated on the undersides of the first and second baffles 28 , 30 .
  • the accumulated drops Ld 1 , Ld 2 may run off the first and second baffles 28 , 30 and downwardly along the vertical inner surface of the wall 24 of the tubular body 12 to be reabsorbed by the wick 18 .
  • Some residual e-liquid Lr may be captured between the first and second baffles 28 , 30 and the vertical inner surface of the wall 24 .
  • the first and second baffles 28 , 30 may be drawn closer to the vertical inner surface of the wall 24 due to the surface tension of the e-liquid Lr. In this manner, the captured e-liquid tends to bias the first and second baffles 28 , 30 to the vertical inner surface of the wall 24 .
  • each of the two baffles is arranged to be deflected so as to lie at 90 degrees to the vertical inner surface of the wall of the tubular body (and to the longitudinal axis). Furthermore each baffle is configured so that a distal or inner end of the baffle coincides with the longitudinal axis when the baffle is so deflected. In this way, the entire width of the bore is obstructed or obscured by the baffles in combination. Accordingly the longitudinally-staggered baffles effectively completely block the liquid drops from reaching the mouthpiece, while allowing the vapour to pass between the baffles to the mouthpiece.
  • the deflection of the baffles is less than 90 degrees to the vertical inner surface of the wall. In these examples, the deflection may be about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, or 85 degrees. In other examples, the deflection of the baffles is more than 90 degrees to the vertical inner surface of the wall. In these examples, the deflection may be about 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, or 175 degrees.
  • one or both of the baffles may extend into the bore such that an inner or distal end of the baffle extends beyond the longitudinal axis.
  • the baffles may overlap in profile.
  • the deflected baffles will overlap one another in profile if they are both arranged to extend into the bore beyond the longitudinal axis, whereas there will be no overlap if both of the deflected baffles are arranged to coincide with the longitudinal axis, or if both of the baffles are arranged to extend less than halfway across the bore so as not to reach the longitudinal axis.
  • the greater the overlap of the baffles the more tortuous will be the flow path followed by the vapour between and around the baffles. That is, the greater the overlap the greater will be the lateral (or X-Y) component of the motion of the vapour particles. This more tortuous flow path may be advantageous, in that the larger and heavier liquid drops will be even less likely to become entrained in the vapour flow and escape through the baffles to the mouthpiece.
  • the gap between the inner ends of the baffles represents a restriction in the bore through which the vapour will pass.
  • the cross-sectional area of this restriction is defined by a flow plane which extends between the inner ends of the baffles.
  • the flow plane may lie along the longitudinal axis or may be inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis, depending upon the extent to which each one of the baffles extends into the bore. For example, in the case that each of the baffles extends across the bore exactly to the longitudinal axis, the flow plane will lie along the longitudinal axis. In the case that both of the baffles extend across the bore beyond the longitudinal axis, the flow plane will lie across the longitudinal axis and will be inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis.
  • the size and/or deflection angles of the baffles, and/or the longitudinal offset of the baffles may be selected so as to define a flow plane having a size and shape which will provide desirable flow characteristics under the suction force.
  • the longitudinal offset may be selected so that the flow plane has a cross-sectional area which is less than, the same as, or greater than, the cross-sectional area of the bore in the transverse (or horizontal or X-Y) direction, as may be desired.
  • each baffle comprises a generally flexible sheet which is connected to the inner surface of the wall of the tubular body.
  • the baffle sheet In the absence of the suction force, the baffle sheet will hang substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis, i.e. vertically. Under the suction force, the baffle sheet will be deflected such as to extend into the bore as has been described herein above.
  • the deflected sheet may be substantially flat when deflected, or may be curved or curled.
  • the movable first and second baffles 28 , 30 are only deployed, such as to significantly obstruct the bore 14 , while the suction force F is applied; when the suction force F is absent or during its cessation, the first and second baffles 28 , 30 are in the un-deployed condition such as to minimise obstruction of the bore 14 , thereby maximising the TPM (Total Particulate Matter) delivery of the device 10 .
  • TPM Total Particulate Matter
  • the bore is circular in cross-section, in other examples the bore is oval, elliptical, or rectangular, e.g. square. While in the above-described example the bore has a constant cross-section, in other examples the cross-section varies along the length of the bore.
  • the heater and the wick are located in the bore of the tubular body, in other examples the heater and the wick are located outside of the bore, for example within the wall of the tubular body or elsewhere in the device. All such arrangements are within the scope of the claimed invention, provided that the baffles are located in the bore between the heater/wick and the mouthpiece, so as to be capable of obstructing the flow path there between.
  • vapour generating device comprises a heater coil wound around a wick
  • different means of liquid delivery and/or heating/vaporisation are provided. All such arrangements are within the scope of the claimed invention, provided that the baffles are provided between the heating/vaporisation means and the mouthpiece.
  • the e-liquid reservoir is provided in the wall of the tubular body, in other examples the reservoir is located elsewhere in the device. All such arrangements are within the scope of the claimed invention, provided that the reservoir is arranged to supply e-liquid for vaporisation by the heater.

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  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
US18/294,008 2021-08-06 2022-07-20 Vapour Generating Device Pending US20250072502A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21190118 2021-08-06
EP21190118.6 2021-08-06
PCT/EP2022/070431 WO2023011927A1 (fr) 2021-08-06 2022-07-20 Dispositif de génération de vapeur

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20250072502A1 true US20250072502A1 (en) 2025-03-06

Family

ID=77249746

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US18/294,008 Pending US20250072502A1 (en) 2021-08-06 2022-07-20 Vapour Generating Device

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20250072502A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4380391A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2023011927A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170368273A1 (en) * 2010-08-23 2017-12-28 Darren Rubin Systems and methods of aerosol delivery with airflow regulation
GB201616430D0 (en) * 2016-09-28 2016-11-09 Nicoventures Holdings Limited Liquid storage tank for a vapour provision system
EP3692836A1 (fr) * 2019-02-07 2020-08-12 Nerudia Limited Appareil de substitution au tabac
EP3714715A1 (fr) * 2019-03-29 2020-09-30 Nerudia Limited Système de substitution du tabac

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP4380391A1 (fr) 2024-06-12
WO2023011927A1 (fr) 2023-02-09

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AS Assignment

Owner name: JT INTERNATIONAL S.A., SWITZERLAND

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WRIGHT, ALEC;ROGAN, ANDREW ROBERT JOHN;REEL/FRAME:066325/0381

Effective date: 20220729

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION