WO2011026845A1 - Fireproof, smoke-free cigarette substitute product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a fireproof device for supplying a mouthpiece (7) with hot air produced by the combustion of liquid gas, generating excess air. Said device takes the form of a heating member (1) comprising a housing sleeve (10) with one or more air inlets (11) and one or more hot air outlets (12) on the mouthpiece side, a burner (3), a gas reservoir (2) for a combustible gas, preferably propane and/or butane gas, and a valve governor (4) for the controlled delivery of gas from the gas reservoir (2) to the burner (3). The mouthpiece (7) can be removably connected to the heating member (1) to resemble the shape and dimensions of a cigarette or cigar in order to deliver an inhalable aerosol, and the control of the valve governor (4) is achieved by means of a negative pressure and/or air stream, produced by suction on the mouthpiece (7). The burner (3) is a premix burner (3), consisting of a nozzle (31), a mixing tube (32), a baffle plate (33) and a combustion chamber (34), which are traversed in the aforementioned order. The combustion chamber (34) contains a first catalyst (341), situated immediately downstream of the baffle plate (33) and another second catalyst (342), connected downstream of said first catalyst (341).

Description

 FIRE-SAFE SMOKE-FREE CIGARETTE SUBSTITUTE PRODUCT Technical area

 The present invention generally relates to a fire-proof device for generating a hot gas for the smoke-free inhalation of nicotine and / or additives.

 General introduction

 When smoking a conventional cigarette tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke in this combustion is inhaled (mainstream smoke) or released to the environment (sidestream smoke).

 The mainstream smoke is largely responsible for the health of the consumer, but provides him with the desired enjoyment. The sidestream smoke is largely responsible for the health damage of passive smokers and is desired by neither the passive smokers nor the consumer.

 In the smoke of a cigarette over 4800 different substances were detected, of which about 70 are considered to be carcinogenic.

 A method and devices based thereon for smoke-free inhalation of nicotine and / or additives have the goal to offer the consumer a substitute for the conventional cigarette, which causes a much lower health damage to consumers and third parties, preferably no health damage to consumers and third parties, while preserving the consumer experience of a traditional cigarette.

 State of the art

 Many methods of inhaling nicotine or other active and flavoring substances are known.

However, to date there is no serious competition on the market for the cigarette. Most known products are actually nicotine substitutes and not intended as indulgence products, but as weaning products. In contrast, known products that are executed in a targeted manner to an alternative to the cigarette without its negative aspects, often tainted by disadvantages that greatly limit their acceptance by the smoker.

 Common to these products is that they do not use the combustion heat of the tobacco, but other energy sources to release a (smoke) aerosol, whereby the main source of sidestream smoke largely eliminated.

 There is only one approach known that has the potential of a true alternative to the cigarette because it combines all aspects of smoking that smokers consider positive and completely eliminates the negative aspects for smokers and third parties.

 [0011] WO 2008/1 13420 A1 describes a process for volatilizing active ingredients and / or flavorings for the purpose of dispensing an inhalable aerosol, in which combustion gases of a combustible gas, which is preferably essentially burned with excess air, are partially or completely mixed with, if appropriate Ambient air, are guided by an active and / or flavoring depot and wherein a desired temperature by the proportion of combustion gases and optionally by the mixing ratio of these combustion gases with ambient air is selectable.

 Such a method, preferably for inhaling a nicotine-flavor mixture, is made possible by the clean combustion of an air-gas mixture, i. The exhaust gases consist of nitrogen, harmless carbon dioxide, water and possibly residual oxygen and can thus be safely inhaled. The advantage of such a method, in contrast to methods in which the heat is transferred exclusively via heat exchangers to the air, that in principle an apparatus for performing this method with much smaller dimensions with higher efficiency and lower production costs to accomplish.

In a further embodiment, the adjustment of the proportion of combustion gases, or the mixing ratio of these combustion gases with ambient air by regulating the flow of mass of combustible gas, wherein the control of the mass flow of combustible gas is preferably effected by means of a negative pressure generated by a suction and / or Air flow takes place. WO 2008/1 13420 A1 describes inter alia a heating rod, which represents the source of energy and heat of the entire system and in operation, controlled by the suction of the user, provides sufficient energy in the form of hot gases available to a sufficient amount of nicotine and to evaporate further active and / or flavoring substances and / or further additives from an exchangeable mouthpiece.

 Although a product is presented in WO 2008/1 13420 A1, in which compared to the cigarette all negative aspects for smokers and third parties were eliminated with respect to the chemical composition of active and passive smoke, the consideration of the emanating from the device Fire hazard in regular operation.

 According to figures from the US Fire Safety Association, more than 167,000 fires were caused in the United States in 2000 by tobacco products. 807 people died, almost 2,200 were injured, and the material damage caused by such fires was estimated at US $ 5 billion in the United States.

 The European Commission assumes that up to 2000 fatalities as well as 7500 injured people throughout Europe are affected by cigarette-related fires.

 Object of the invention

 The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus similar to a heating rod described in WO 2008/1 13420 A1 for producing a hot gas for the smoke-free inhalation of nicotine and / or additives, but of which no during operation Fire danger goes out.

Since the device described in WO 2008/1 13420 A1 burns liquefied petroleum gas in operation and thus there is a fire risk in principle, the device must be such that if the consumer does not suck on the mouthpiece and the device lies down or falls during operation, the Energy emitted by the burner to the environment is not sufficient to ignite solid materials, in particular papers and textiles of any kind. General description of the invention

This object is achieved by providing a heater in the form of a rod or so-called. Heating element, which is releasably connectable to a mouthpiece side end with a mouthpiece to its supply of hot air from a liquefied gas combustion with excess air, and wherein the heating element alone, or with mouthpiece has the shape and dimensions of a cigarette or cigar. The heating device according to the invention comprises:

 a burner at one of the mouthpiece side end opposite burner side end face,

 a housing sleeve with one or more burner-side air inlets and one or more mouthpiece-side hot air outlets,

 a gas tank for a combustible gas, preferably propane and / or butane gas, and

 a regulator valve for the controlled delivery of the gas from the gas tank to the burner, wherein the control of the regulator valve is effected by means of a negative pressure and / or air flow generated by a suction at the mouthpiece. The burner is a premix burner which preferably comprises a nozzle for producing a conical liquid vapor jet, a mixing tube and a baffle plate for producing a liquid-gas / air mixture and a combustion chamber as a boundary of the reaction zone, through which gas flows in said order. In addition, a first catalyst is arranged downstream of the baffle plate in the combustion chamber and a further second catalyst downstream of the first catalyst.

Such a heater can be used advantageously as a so-called heating rod, for example, in a device as described in WO 2008/1 13420 A1. Accordingly, it is understood that in addition those relevant features can be used, which are shown and described in WO 2008/1 13420 A1, to which reference is expressly made to avoid repetition. The shape and dimensions of the heating element with a mouthpiece connectable therewith enable a usage very similar to that of a conventional cigarette. In this context, the term "shape / shape and dimensions of a cigarette or cigar" means that the heating rod and mouthpiece have a generally cylindrical shape and a diameter between about 6 to about 14 mm, preferably between about 8 and 1 1 mm and have a length of about 50 to about 150 mm, preferably between about 75 and about 105 mm.

 The general advantages of the heater correspond to those of WO 2008/1 13420 A1, e.g. the ease of use by the user, which is also supported by a very low weight, so that the device is easily portable in the mouth without having to be permanently held in the hand. In addition, the reusability of such a heating element is to mention in particular.

 In addition, the invention allows, however, by the particular configuration and arrangement of a first (inner) and second (outer) catalyst to significantly reduce the temperatures on the outer burner side of the heating without affecting the functions of the heater, such as Heating the air or igniting the heater.

 By lowering the external temperatures of the heating element, in particular by the fact that the energy emitted by the burner to the environment is not sufficient for igniting solid materials, in particular papers and textiles of any kind, the risk of fire during operation, e.g. when lying down or dropping the device significantly reduced.

 The invention also contributes to the safety of the heater during use, for. B. by unintentional touching the burner-side end of the heater.

Another advantage of the invention is that is achieved by the arrangement of two catalysts that the first catalyst reaches a suitable operating temperature faster (as a corresponding one-piece designed catalyst of first and second catalyst), ie even at lower gas volumes, and can last longer in operation (since this is in Inside the combustion chamber is located) without representing a risk of injury or fire.

 The regulator valve is controllable by means of a generated by the suction of a user vacuum and / or air flow. In this case, the regulator valve comprises a control body, and preferably means for generating a restoring force, wherein the control body preferably has at least a first, minimally open and a second, open state and the control body by means of the generated negative pressure and / or air flow from the minimum open state, if necessary is displaceable against a restoring force in the open state. Thus, it is possible to achieve at least two basic operating modes: service flame (open) and pilot flame (minimum open).

 In this context, "minimally open" or the corresponding expressions "minimum flow" or "minimum flow cross-section" to understand a state in which flows through a small amount of gas, which is just sufficient so that the flame in the downstream burner not The resulting operating condition, also called a pilot flame, allows the user to make multiple moves without having to re-ignite the burner every time, while consuming as little gas as possible, which benefits a more compact design of the device.

 In a preferred embodiment of the device, the first catalyst and the minimum open state of the regulator valve are dimensioned such that the liquid gas-air mixture completely burns in the minimum open state of the regulator valve on the first catalyst. As a result of this further measure, the second catalyst practically does not heat up during the so-called standby (pilot flame only). It is thus possible to further reduce the temperature at the burner end during a considerable period of use and thus to increase safety.

In a further preferred embodiment of the device, the second catalyst, if necessary, the first catalyst, and the open state of the regulator valve are dimensioned such that the liquid gas-air mixture burns completely in the open state of the regulator valve on the first and second catalyst. The first catalyst preferably comprises a carrier body and a catalytic coating for the total oxidation of hydrocarbons, preferably for the total oxidation of butane, propane or mixtures thereof. The coating of the first catalyst preferably contains z. As platinum, palladium and / or non-noble metal mixed oxides. The carrier body of the first catalyst is preferably a metallic carrier body, for. As an annular or S-shaped wire, which can further enhance the effect described above on the operating temperature.

 The second catalyst preferably also comprises a carrier body and a catalytic coating for the total oxidation of hydrocarbons, preferably for the total oxidation of butane, propane or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the carrier body of the second catalyst is made of a ceramic material, which essentially does not sufficiently heat the carrier itself, but preferably only the coating, and therefore also cools faster when not in use. The coating of the second catalyst may be identical to or different from that of the first catalyst, wherein z. As well as platinum, palladium and / or non-noble metal mixed oxides may be included.

 Furthermore, the use of ceramic as a carrier material for the second catalyst is advantageous, since this is depending on the design, in contrast to the first catalyst, partially unprotected in the frontal opening of the heating element and / or during assembly to the wall of the combustion chamber along slides, which is why a good adhesion of the coating on the carrier body is necessary, which is given in the use of ceramic as a carrier material in an optimal manner. As a result, the risk of dissolving and the inhalation stream supplied components of the coating is largely eliminated and increases the stability of the second catalyst considerably.

The dimensioning of the first and second catalyst depends essentially on the usable surface area of the catalyst coating and on the intended flow rate of gas or gas-air mixture. The more porous the coated carrier, the smaller the required volume and the more compact the burner and thus the device. The dimensioning of catalysts in terms of clean combustion is known per se. The regulation of the respective amount of gas via the regulator valve. Preferably, the regulator valve is a hollow needle valve with peripheral inlet and frontal outlet, wherein the hollow needle is axially movable and includes means for generating a restoring force.

 In a further embodiment, the hollow needle valve also serves as the main valve. It is preferably by axial displacement of the hollow needle from a closed state, in a minimally open, an open and all states between minimally open and open state displaceable.

 Advantageously, the axial displacement of the hollow needle, against the restoring force, by a mouthpiece side attached to the hollow needle piston. This piston is mouthpiece side acted upon by suction at the mouthpiece by a negative pressure and is preferably in contact on the opposite side with atmospheric pressure.

 The heating device or the heating element described here can be connected to a mouthpiece containing an active and / or flavorant depot. The exhaust gases of the burner are, partially or completely, possibly mixed with ambient air, passed through the mouthpiece to evaporate through the thus generated hot air, or -gases the substances contained in an active and / or flavoring depot, z. B. in order to inhale it as an aerosol.

 For releasably connecting or pushing the mouthpiece of the heating element mouthpiece side is preferably provided with a cylindrical flange.

 This cylindrical flange may advantageously be provided with one or more ramps, which are pushed by pushing a mouthpiece radially inwardly, whereby the piston and the associated hollow needle against a return force so far in the axial direction move that the hollow needle valve is moved from the closed to the minimum open state, and the closed state is released only by removing the mouthpiece.

To ignite the heater, the combustion chamber preferably has at least one axial outlet opening through which the burner can be ignited from the outside. For guiding the heated air, or exhaust gases, the device is preferably designed such that the combustion chamber contains one or more preferably coaxially arranged openings in the region of the second catalyst. The openings are preferably arranged such that the surfaces of the openings projected along their axes do not impinge directly on the surface of the catalyst surfaces, so that they leave no radiant energy of the catalysts, so that the housing sleeve even at full load in the front burner side area (corresponding to a proper use for Inhalation, ie essentially that of a normal smoking cycle) is not heated substantially above 70 ° C, preferably not above 60 ° C, more preferably not above 50 ° C.

 In a further embodiment of the device, a hot gas collector is coaxially arranged around the combustion chamber, which communicates via the coaxial (s) opening (s) with the combustion chamber and is separated from the housing sleeve by an air gap. This particular embodiment prevents alternatively or additionally the heating of the housing sleeve and thus exceeding the specified temperatures.

 Preferably, the hot gas collector is designed such that it communicates with the mouthpiece side hot air outlets via a heat pipe in connection, wherein the heat pipe is separated by an air gap of the housing sleeve and the other components.

 As already noted, reference is hereby expressly made to possible features of the heating element, such as filling valve, carbon monoxide oxidation catalyst, annealing grate, etc., which are not further described here, as shown and described in WO 2008/1 13420 A1, which results in further advantageous embodiments Embodiments result.

 Brief description of the figures

 In the following, advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1 shows the principle of operation of the present invention with reference to an advantageous embodiment of the device. a) Inactive: There is no mouthpiece 7 attached to the heating element 1. The main valve 42 is closed.

b) Active: A mouthpiece 7 is attached, the main valve 42 is open, the control valve 4 minimally open. The minimum amount of gas is insufficient to ignite the heating element 1 by an external ignition source 8, wherein the arrows in the figures represent the flow direction of gas or air.

c) Ignition: A user pulls on the mouthpiece 7, the control valve 4 opens, the flame of an external ignition source 8 is sucked in and ignites the now sufficient liquid gas-air mixture at the second catalyst 342. By flashback and / or heat conduction is also the first catalyst 341 brought to operating temperature. If the user pulls longer on the mouthpiece 7, the heating element 1 passes directly into state e), the user moves only briefly on the mouthpiece 7, the heating element 1 goes into state d) (the higher the temperature of the respective catalyst, the darker this is shown graphically ).

d) Standby: The heating element 1 is ignited, the user does not pull on the mouthpiece 7, the control valve 4 is minimally open. The first catalyst 341 is at operating temperature after ignition, the minimum amount of gas is sufficient to maintain it at operating temperature. The minimum amount of gas already burns at the first catalyst 341, so that the second catalyst 342 is inactive. The small amount of combustion gases is not sufficient after leaving the heating element 1 to ignite paper or textiles.

e) evaporation: The heating element 1 is ignited, the user pulls on the mouthpiece 7, the regulating valve 4 is open. The amount of gas is no longer completely burned at the first catalyst 341, so that the second catalyst 342 is active and burns the excess mixture in the second catalyst 342. The amount of combustion gas is now sufficient to evaporate nicotine and / or flavor from the mouthpiece 7. In the ideal case shown here is the amount of combustion gas generated as a function of the tensile strength identical to the train volume, so that neither combustion gases leave the heating element 1 through the axial outlet opening 343, nor ambient air is sucked through the axial outlet opening 343.

 Fig. 2 shows how the heating element 1 is activated by placing a mouthpiece 7. When pushing the mouthpiece 7 on the flange 5 of the heating element 1, the ramps 45 are pressed radially inwardly, whereby they raise the piston 44 of the regulator valve 4 slightly. The main valve 42 is opened, the regulator valve 4 is in the minimum open state.

 FIG. 3 shows a section through the flange 5 of a preferred embodiment of the heating element 1. The arrangement of the ramps 45 and the piston 44 can be seen.

 Fig. 4 shows a section of a preferred embodiment of a fire-proof heating element 1 with all components in detail.

 Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a device according to the invention serves as a heating element 1, e.g. in a device described in WO2008 / 1 13420A1, d. H. a device according to the invention is provided with a device for delivering active and / or flavored substances to a fluid flow, for. B. a knitting and / or flavoring containing mouthpiece 7, connected via a flange 5.

 In this embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises

 a housing sleeve 10 made of stainless steel with a ceramic coating on the outside, which is preferably modeled by printing or etching a cigarette paper with the typical rings, which is open on the burner side at its front end whereby an air inlet for all components is formed.

connected to the housing sleeve 10 mouthpiece side flange 5 for attaching a mouthpiece 7 with a frontal hot air outlet and also an end opening with the mouthpiece side surface of the piston 44 of the regulator valve 4 in Connection is and a third opening including sealing surface for connection of a refill system (not shown, eg., Tank station as in WO 2008/1 13420 A1).

two coaxial with the flange axis arranged ramps 45 on the outside of the flange 5, which are interconnected within the flange 5, form a leaf spring and are in contact with the mouthpiece side facing away from the piston 44 and are formed so that when plugging a mouthpiece 7 the Ramps 45 press inward and the leaf spring forming a compound of the ramps 45 bulges in the direction of the mouthpiece side end face, whereby the piston 44 is pressed in accordance with the mouthpiece side end face. When removing the mouthpiece 7 take the leaf spring forming ramps 45 back to their original position and the piston 44 can also return to its original position.

a gas tank 2, which is connected via a filling valve 21 with the opening including sealing surface for connection of a refill system (not shown) in the flange 5 and which further via a radially extending in the axial direction outlet slot 22 with a regulating valve 4 for metered delivery of LPG is connected to a downstream burner 3.

a control valve 4 in the form of a hollow needle valve 4 with peripheral inlet 41, which is connected to the outlet slot 22 in the tank and a frontal outlet, which is connected to a burner 3, the hollow needle 40 is axially movable and includes means for generating a restoring force 43 , The hollow needle valve 4 also serves as a main valve 42, wherein the main valve 42 is formed by an attached in the hollow needle 40 frontal seal and the frontal outlet 42. It is preferred by axial displacement of the hollow needle 40 from a closed state, in a minimally open, an open and all states between minimally open and open state displaceable, wherein the axial displacement of the hollow needle 40 against the restoring force by a mouthpiece side attached to the hollow needle 40 piston 44 takes place. This piston 44 is mouthpiece side at suction on the mouthpiece 7 through the frontal opening, which communicates with the mouthpiece side surface of the piston 44 in communication, acted upon by a negative pressure and is preferably on the opposite side with atmospheric pressure in contact. The minimally open state of the regulator valve 4 is controlled, as described above, by the ramps 45 located on the flange 5.

a the regulator valve 4 downstream burner 3, which is a flame arrester, which z. B. from a small sieve with sufficiently small mesh size according to the principle miner's lamp, a nozzle 31, a mixing tube 32, which preferably serves as a heat insulator and preferably consists of a poor thermal conductivity ceramic, a baffle plate 33 for swirling the mixture and a combustion chamber 34th with a first catalytic converter 341 located therein and a second catalytic converter 342 connected downstream of the first catalytic converter 341, an axial outlet opening 343, as well as a plurality of coaxial openings 344 in the region of the second catalytic converter 342.

a material exchanger 6, which consists of a hot gas collector 61, which is arranged coaxially around the combustion chamber 34 and communicates via the coaxial openings with the combustion chamber 34 and is separated from the housing sleeve 10 by an air gap 63, and a heat pipe 62, which the hot gas collector 61 connects with the mouthpiece side hot air outlet and is also surrounded by a circumferential air gap 63 exists. Table 1: Reference list

No. General name Specific name

1 heater heating element

 10 housing sleeve

 1 1 air inlets

 12 warm air outlets

 2 gas tank

 21 filling valve

 22 outlet slot

 3 burners

 31 nozzle

 32 mixing tube

 33 baffle plate

 34 combustion chamber

 341 first catalyst

 342 second catalyst

 343 axial outlet opening

 344 coaxial opening (s)

 4 regulator valve hollow needle valve

 40 rule body hollow needle

 41 circumference inlet

 42 Main valve, front outlet

43 means for generating a restoring force

 44 pistons

 45 ramps

 5 flange

 6 material exchanger

 61 hot gas collector

 62 heat pipe

 63 air gap

 7 mouthpiece

 8 ignition source

Claims

 Heating device (1) in the form of a rod in the form and dimensions of a cigarette or cigar, which at a mouthpiece side end with a mouthpiece (7) for supplying hot air from a liquid gas combustion with excess air is detachably connectable, comprising a burner (3) on a the mouthpiece-side end face opposite burner-side end face,  a housing sleeve (10) having one or more burner-side air inlets (1 1) and one or more mouthpiece-side hot air outlets (12),  a gas tank (2) for a combustible gas, preferably propane and / or butane gas, and  a regulator valve (4) for the controlled delivery of the gas from the gas tank (2) to the burner (3), the control of the regulator valve (4) being effected by means of a negative pressure and / or air flow generated by suction on the mouthpiece (7), the burner (3) being a premix burner comprising a nozzle (31), a mixing tube (32) for generating a liquid gas-air mixture, a baffle plate (33) and a combustion chamber (34) flows through the gas in said order, wherein in the combustion chamber (34) a first catalyst (341) arranged downstream of the baffle plate (33) and another second Catalyst (342) downstream of the first catalyst (341). Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first catalyst (341) comprises a carrier body, preferably a metallic carrier body, and a catalytic coating, preferably with platinum, palladium and / or non-noble metal mixed oxides, for the total oxidation of hydrocarbons, preferably for the total oxidation of butane and / or propane , includes. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second catalyst (342) comprises a carrier body, preferably a ceramic carrier body, and a catalytic coating, preferably with platinum, palladium and / or non-noble metal mixed oxides, for the total oxidation of hydrocarbons, preferably for the total oxidation of butane and / or propane.  4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first catalyst (341), as well as a minimally open state of the regulator valve (4) are dimensioned such that the liquid gas-air mixture completely burns in the minimum open state of the regulator valve (4) on the first catalyst (341).  5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second catalyst (342), and an open state of the regulator valve (4) are dimensioned such that the liquid-gas-air mixture in the open state of the regulator valve completely on the first and second catalyst (341, 342) burns.  6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the heating device (1) mouthpiece side with a cylindrical flange (5) is provided, on which a mouthpiece (7) can be pushed.  7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the regulator valve (4) is a hollow needle valve (4) with peripheral inlet (41) and frontal outlet (42), wherein the hollow needle (40) is axially movable and means for generating a return force (43).  8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the hollow needle valve (4) serves as the main valve (42) and by axial displacement of the hollow needle (40) from a closed state, to a minimum open, an open and all states between minimally open and open state is displaceable. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the axial displacement of the hollow needle (40) counter to the restoring force by a mouthpiece side of the hollow needle (40) mounted piston (44), which mouthpiece side is acted upon by suction at the mouthpiece (7) by a negative pressure and preferably on the opposite side is in contact with atmospheric pressure. 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the cylindrical flange (5) is provided with one or more ramps (45) which are pushed by pushing a mouthpiece radially inwardly, wherein said piston (44) and the associated hollow needle (40 ) Move against a return force so far in the axial direction that the hollow needle valve (4) from closed in the nnininnal open state is added, and the closed state is released only by pulling the mouthpiece (7).  1 1. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the combustion chamber (34) has an axial outlet opening (343) through which the burner (3) can be ignited from the outside.  The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the combustor (34) includes one or more coaxially disposed openings (344) in the region of the second catalyst, wherein the coaxial opening (s) (344) are preferably arranged such that the along their axes, projected surfaces of the coaxial opening (s) (344) do not impinge directly on the surface of the catalyst surfaces, so that they do not transmit radiant energy from the catalysts (341, 342).  13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein coaxially around the combustion chamber (34) a hot gas collector (61) is arranged, which communicates via the coaxial (s) opening (s) (344) with the combustion chamber (34) and from the housing sleeve (10) is separated by an air gap (63).  14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the hot gas collector (61) with the mouthpiece side hot air outlets (12) via a heat pipe (62) is in communication, wherein the heat pipe (62) through an air gap (63) of the housing sleeve (10) and the rest Components is separated.