Patent Publication Number: US-10779577-B2

Title: Aerosol-cooling element and arrangements for use with apparatus for heating a smokable material

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a division of application Ser. No. 15/307,074 filed Oct. 27, 2016, which in turn is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2015/051253, filed on 30 Apr. 2015, which claims priority to GB Patent Application No. 1407642.6, filed on 30 Apr. 2014, each of which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-cooling element and to arrangements for use with apparatus for heating a smokable material. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are so-called heat-not-burn products, also known as tobacco heating products or tobacco heating devices, which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material, the element being a monolithic rod having first and second ends and comprising plural through holes extending between the first and second ends. 
     In an embodiment, the through holes extend substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the rod. 
     In an embodiment, the through holes are arranged generally radially of the element when viewed in lateral cross-section. That is, in an example, the element has internal walls which define the through holes and which have two main configurations, namely radial walls and central walls. The radial walls extend along radii of the cross-section of the element and the central walls are centered on the center of the cross-section of the element. The central walls in one example are circular, though other regular or irregular cross-sectional shapes may be used. Likewise, the cross-section of the element in one example is circular, though other regular or irregular cross-sectional shapes may be used. 
     In an embodiment, the majority of the through holes have a hexagonal or generally hexagonal cross-sectional shape. In this embodiment, the element has what might be termed a “honeycomb” structure when viewed from one end. 
     In an embodiment, the element is substantially incompressible. 
     In an embodiment, the element is formed of a ceramic material. 
     In an embodiment, the element is formed of a polymer. The element may be formed of a thermoplastic polymer. 
     In an embodiment, the element is formed of an extrudable plastics material. 
     In an embodiment, the porosity of the element is in the range 60% to 75%. The porosity in this sense may be a measure of the percentage of the lateral cross-sectional area of the element occupied by the through holes. In an embodiment, the porosity of the element is around 69% to 70%. 
     According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material, the element being a rod having first and second ends and comprising at least one tube within the rod, the tube extending between the first and second ends so as to provide a through hole extending between the first and second ends of the rod. 
     In an embodiment, the rod is formed of a first material and the at least one tube is formed of a second, different material. 
     In an embodiment, the rod is formed of cellulose acetate. 
     In an embodiment, the rod is formed of a cellulose acetate tow. 
     In an embodiment, the at least one tube is formed of at least one of silicone rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate, and polypropylene. 
     In an embodiment, the element comprises plural tubes within the rod and extending between the first and second ends, providing plural through holes extending between the first and second ends of the rod. 
     According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material, the element being a rod having first and second ends and comprising plural activated carbon fibers within the rod, the activated carbon fibers extending between the first and second ends of the rod. 
     In an embodiment, the activated carbon fibers are substantially aligned with one another. 
     In an embodiment, the rod consists of activated carbon fibers held together by an outer wrap. 
     In an embodiment, the element comprises activated carbon fibers embedded or dispersed within a second, different material. 
     In an embodiment, the second, different material comprises cellulose acetate. 
     In an embodiment, the second, different material comprises a cellulose acetate tow. According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material, the element being a rod having first and second ends, the rod being formed as a matrix of a first material containing particles of a second material. 
     In an embodiment, the first material comprises at least one polymer. 
     In an embodiment, the second material comprises carbon. 
     There may be provided a cooling assembly for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material, the cooling assembly comprising: an aerosol-cooling element as described above for cooling volatilized smokable material; and a tube at one end of the aerosol-cooling element. 
     In an embodiment, said tube is a hollow tube for providing a filtering function to filter volatilized smokable material. 
     In an embodiment, the cooling assembly comprises comprising a second tube at the other end of the aerosol-cooling element. 
     There may be provided a smoking article for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material, the smoking article comprising: smokable material; and an aerosol-cooling element as described above for cooling volatilized smokable material produced when the smokable material is heated. 
     In an embodiment, the smoking article comprises a spacer between the smokable material and the aerosol-cooling element. In an embodiment, the spacer is a hollow spacer tube. 
     In an embodiment, the smoking article comprises a hollow mouth end tube at an end of the aerosol-cooling element. In an embodiment, the mouth end tube is arranged to provide a filtering function to filter volatilized smokable material produced when the smokable material is heated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic perspective view of a first example of an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic perspective view of a second example of an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic side view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic side view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic end view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic end view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. 
         FIG. 7  shows a schematic end view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. 
         FIG. 8  shows a schematic end view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. 
         FIG. 9  shows schematically an example of an arrangement for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. 
         FIG. 10  shows schematically an example of a consumable for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. 
         FIG. 11  shows schematically an example of a part-finished product. 
         FIG. 12  shows a schematic perspective view of an example of an apparatus for heating a smokable material. 
         FIG. 13  shows a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  shows a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of an example of a heater support sleeve and heating chamber suitable for use in the apparatus of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, the term “smokable material” includes materials that provide volatilized components upon heating, typically in the form of an aerosol. “Smokable material” includes any tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, shredded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. “Smokable material” also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. 
     Apparatus is known that heats smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, typically to form an aerosol which can be inhaled, without burning or combusting the smokable material. Such apparatus is sometimes described as a “heat-not-burn” apparatus or a “tobacco heating product” or “tobacco heating device” or similar. The apparatus is typically generally elongate, having an open end, sometimes referred to as the mouth end. The smokable material may be in the form of or provided as part of a cartridge or cassette or rod which can be inserted into the apparatus. A filter arrangement may be provided at the mouth end to filter and/or cool volatilized material as the material is drawn by the user. A heater for heating and volatilizing the smokable material may be provided as a “permanent” part of the apparatus or may be provided as part of the smoking article or consumable which is discarded and replaced after use. A “smoking article” in this context is a device or article or other component that includes the smokable material, which in use is heated to volatilize the smokable material, and optionally other components. In use, particularly in the present principal applications, the smokable material is not burnt or combusted. 
     A particular problem with such heat-not-burn apparatus is cooling the volatilized material before it reaches the user. High temperatures are required to heat the smokable material, and the smokable material is often in close proximity to the mouth end of the apparatus. Moreover, unlike for example a conventional cigarette, the volatilized material typically does not pass though a relatively lengthy body of smokable material before reaching the user. Moreover, the outer housing of a heat-not-burn apparatus is often thermally insulated from the chamber where the smokable material is heated and from the passageway through which the volatilized material passes. As a result, the volatilized material is typically subject to little cooling during its passage through the apparatus. 
     Certain examples of embodiments of the present disclosure provide for cooling of the volatilized material or aerosol which is produced in use by such apparatus. In certain examples of embodiments of the present invention, such cooling may be achieved with little or no filtering function, or at least little or no filtering function beyond or in addition to any filtering that is performed by any associated filter which may be provided in use for the apparatus. That is, the primary concern of examples of embodiments of cooling elements of the present disclosure is to provide for cooling of the volatilized material or aerosol, and filtering is not a particular concern and is not addressed by the cooling element per se. In this regard, as noted above, achieving cooling of smoke in a conventional cigarette is normally not a particular concern as the smoke will typically have cooled sufficiently on its passage to the user anyway. Heat-not-burn apparatus or tobacco heating products/devices therefore present their own different problems and difficulties in this regard. The cooling elements described herein may be provided as part of the main apparatus (which typically includes a power supply, control circuitry and the like), and/or as part of the consumable (which is inserted into or otherwise engaged with the main apparatus and discarded and replaced after use), with the heater for heating the tobacco or other smokable material of the consumable being provided as part of the main apparatus or the consumable or both. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a schematic perspective view of a first example of an aerosol-cooling element  10  for use with an apparatus for heating and volatilizing smokable material. In this example, the element  10  is cylindrical having a circular cross-section. In this example, the element  10  is a monolithic rod  12 . That is, the rod  12  is a block of a single material. The rod  12  has first and second ends  13 ,  14 . In use, one end  13  will be located towards the smokable material and the heater of the heating apparatus with which the element  10  is used and the other end  14  will be located at or towards the mouth end. 
     The element  10  of  FIG. 1  has plural through holes  15  extending between the first and second ends  13 ,  14 . In the example shown, the through holes  15  extend generally parallel to each other and extend substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis  16  of the rod  12 . However, other arrangements are possible. For example, not all the through holes  15  need be parallel to each other. In another example, some or all of the through holes  15  are not parallel to the central longitudinal axis  16  of the rod  12 . In use, the aerosol or volatilized material passes through the through holes  15 , allowing heat to be conducted from the aerosol or volatilized material to cool the aerosol or volatilized material. 
     The element  10  of  FIG. 1  in one example is substantially incompressible, that is, the element  10  is reasonably rigid and relatively large forces are required to compress the element  10 . In this way, the element  10  can be self-supporting, requiring no further arrangement to support the element  10  in use. 
     In one example, the element  10  of  FIG. 1  is formed of a ceramic material. A ceramic material is an inorganic, non-metallic material, often a crystalline oxide, nitride or carbide material. Suitable examples include silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si3N4), titanium carbide, and zirconium dioxide (zirconia), though other ceramic or non-ceramic materials may be used. In other examples the element  10  of  FIG. 1  is formed of at least one polymer. The polymer may be for example a thermoplastic, such as for example a polyolefin, a polyester, a polyamides (or nylon, including for example nylon 6), a polyacrylic, a polystyrene, a polyvinyl, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a polyether block amide; a polyolefin such as for example polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene and polymethylpentene; a polyester; a polyacrylic; a polystyrene; a polyvinyl such as for example ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol and polyvinyl chloride; and any copolymer thereof, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. 
     The element  10  of  FIG. 1  may be formed initially as a solid block and the through holes  15  formed by piercing or boring through the block. More efficiently however, the element  10  of  FIG. 1  may be formed initially with the through holes  15 , for example by some suitable molding technique, which may optionally include extrusion and/or pultrusion for example. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a schematic perspective view of a second example of an aerosol-cooling element  20  for use with an apparatus for heating and volatilizing smokable material. In this example, the element  20  is cylindrical having a circular cross-section. In this example, the element  20  is a rod  21  having first and second ends  22 ,  23 . In use, one end  22  will be located towards the smokable material and the heater of the heating apparatus with which the element  20  is used and the other end  23  will be located at or towards the mouth end. 
     The element  20  of  FIG. 2  has at least one tube  24  within the rod  21 , the tube  24  extending between the first and second ends  22 ,  23  so as to provide a through hole  25  extending between the first and second ends  22 ,  23  of the rod  21 . There are preferably plural such tubes  24  providing plural through holes  25  through the rod  21 . In the example shown, the tubes  24  and through holes  25  extend generally parallel to each other and extend substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis  26  of the rod  21 . However, other arrangements are possible. For example, not all the tubes  24  and through holes  25  need be parallel to each other. In another example, some or all of the tubes  24  and through holes  215  are not parallel to the central longitudinal axis  26  of the rod  21 . In use, the aerosol or volatilized material passes through the through holes  25 , allowing heat to be conducted from the aerosol or volatilized material to cool the aerosol or volatilized material. 
     The element  20  of  FIG. 2  in one example is substantially incompressible. In this way, the element  20  can be self-supporting, requiring no further arrangement to support the element  20  in use. 
     In an example of the element  20  of  FIG. 2 , the main body portion or rod  21  is formed of a first material and the or each tube  24  is formed of a second, different material. In an example, the main body portion or rod  21  is formed of cellulose acetate. In an example, the main body portion or rod  21  is formed of a cellulose acetate tow. As is known per se, a tow is an untwisted bundle of continuous filaments, in this example a ribbon consisting of many cellulose acetate strands. In an example, the or each tube  24  is formed of at least one of silicone rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate, and polypropylene. Other materials may be used. One or more of the various tubes  24  may be formed of different materials from the others. The main body portion or rod  21  and the or each tube  24  may be formed as a block and then stretched or co-extruded to the desired diameter. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a schematic side view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element  30  for use with an apparatus for heating and volatilizing smokable material. In this example, the element  30  is cylindrical having a circular cross-section. In this example, the element  30  is a rod  31  having first and second ends  32 ,  33 . In use, one end  32  will be located towards the smokable material and the heater of the heating apparatus with which the element  30  is used and the other end  33  will be located at or towards the mouth end. 
     The element  30  of  FIG. 3  has plural activated carbon fibers or threads  34  extending between the first and second ends  32 , 33 . It will be understood that this is shown only schematically in  FIG. 3  and that there may be hundreds or even thousands of such fibers  34 . As is known per se, “activated” carbon is a form of carbon that has been processed to so as to have very many small, low-volume pores which increase dramatically the surface area of the carbon. In the example shown the activated carbon fibers  34  are substantially aligned with one another. In use, the aerosol or volatilized material passes along the activated carbon fibers  34 , allowing heat to be conducted from the aerosol or volatilized material to cool the aerosol or volatilized material. The activated carbon fibers or threads  34  may be formed solely of carbon. In another example, the activated carbon fibers or threads  34  may be formed by for example pulling a thread of material through a glue or other adhesive bath and then applying carbon fibers to the thread, with the carbon fibers adhering to the thread by virtue of the glue. The thread material in that case may be for example cellulose acetate. 
     In one arrangement, the rod  31  consists of the activated carbon fibers  34 , which are held together by an outer wrap or sheath  35 , with no other material being present. The wrap  35  may be formed of a material such as paper. In another arrangement, the rod  31  is formed from the activated carbon fibers  34  which are embedded or dispersed within a second, different material. The second, different material may be for example cellulose acetate, including for example a cellulose acetate tow. 
     The element  30  of  FIG. 3  in one example is substantially incompressible. In this way, the element  30  can be self-supporting, requiring no further arrangement to support the element  30  in use. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a schematic side view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element  40  for use with an apparatus for heating and volatilizing smokable material. In this example, the element  40  is cylindrical having a circular cross-section. In this example, the element  40  is a rod  41  having first and second ends  42 ,  43 . In use, one end  42  will be located towards the smokable material and the heater of the heating apparatus with which the element  40  is used and the other end  43  will be located at or towards the mouth end. 
     The element  40  of  FIG. 4  is formed as a matrix composed of a body portion  44  of a first material containing particles  45  of a second material. (It will be understood that  FIG. 4  is schematic and that there will typically be thousands or tens of thousands or more of particles  45 .) 
     In an example, the first material of the body portion  44  comprises at least one polymer. The polymer may be for example a thermoplastic, such as for example a polyolefin, a polyester, a polyamides (or nylon, including for example nylon 6), a polyacrylic, a polystyrene, a polyvinyl, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a polyether block amide; a polyolefin such as for example polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene and polymethylpentene; a polyester; a polyacrylic; a polystyrene; a polyvinyl such as for example ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol and polyvinyl chloride; and any copolymer thereof, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. The first material of the body portion  44  may be a water-soluble resin. 
     In an example, the second material of the particles  45  comprises carbon. The carbon may be activated carbon. 
     The element  40  may be formed for example by mixing the particles  45  with the material of the body portion  44 , extruding the mixture, and then microwaving the mixture to cure it. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a schematic end view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element  50  for use with an apparatus for heating and volatilizing smokable material. In this example, the element  50  is again cylindrical, in this case having a circular cross-section (as can be seen in  FIG. 5 ) though other cross-sectional shapes are possible, including for example square, rectangular or other quadrilateral, other polygonal, which may be regular or irregular, including for example pentagonal, octagonal, etc., etc. In this example, the element  50  is a monolithic rod, that is, the rod is a block of a single material. In use, one end of the rod-like element  50  will be located towards the smokable material and the heater of the heating apparatus with which the element  50  is used and the other end will be located at or towards the mouth end. 
     The element  50  of  FIG. 5  has plural through holes or lumen  55  extending between the first and second ends. In the example shown, the through holes  55  extend generally parallel to each other and extend substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the rod-like element  50 . However, other arrangements are possible. For example, not all the through holes  55  need be parallel to each other. In another example, some or all of the through holes  55  are not parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the rod-like element  50 . In use, the aerosol or volatilized material passes through the through holes  55 , allowing heat to be conducted from the aerosol or volatilized material to cool the aerosol or volatilized material. 
     In this example, the through holes  55  when viewed in lateral cross-section (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) are arranged generally radially. That is, the internal walls of the element  50  which define the through holes  55  have two main configurations, namely radial walls  56  and central walls  57 . The radial walls  56  extend along radii of the cross-section of the element  50 . The central walls  57  pass generally around the center of the cross-section of the element  50 . In the example shown, the central walls  57  are circular, though other shapes are possible, and may for example be regular or irregular polygons, optionally following the general cross-sectional shape of the element  50  as a whole. There may be for example a first, innermost central wall  57   a  and a second central wall  57   b  located radially outwards of the first, innermost central wall  57   a . Further central walls may be provided. Radial walls  56  may extend between the innermost central wall  57   a  and the second central wall  57   b . Further radial walls  56  may extend between the second central wall  57   b  and the outermost wall  58  of the element  50 . Depending on the flow arrangement and cooling effect that is required, some or all of the radial walls  56  that extend between the innermost central wall  57   a  and the second central wall  57   b  may be radially aligned with the radial walls  56  that extend between the second central wall  57   b  and the outermost wall  58  of the element  50 . Likewise, in the example shown, there are no radial walls provided radially inwardly of the innermost central wall  57   b  so that the center of the element  50  is open, though one or more radial walls and/or other non-radial walls and/or other projections may extend into or across the center of the element  50 . Moreover, the radial walls  56  are regularly angularly spaced from each other, so that the radial angle between each pair of radial walls  56  is the same, but this need not be the case and respective pairs of radial walls may have different angular separations. This all allows for a flexible design for the element  50  so that the effective porosity of the element  50  to air or vapor flow can be set to be a predetermined or desired value. Correspondingly, the effective surface area within the element  50  that is exposed to the vapor or aerosol passing through can be controlled or set to a desired value; it has been found that the effective surface area within the element is one of the main factors in determining the amount of cooling that is achieved. All of these factors enable better control of the cooling that is achieved in use, as well has in some cases enabling better control of aspects such as the droplet size of the vapor that passes through the element  50  in use as well as the amount of vapor that might condense during passage through the element  50 . 
     In the specific example of  FIG. 5 , each of the radial walls  56   a  that extends between the innermost central wall  57   a  and the second central wall  57   b  is radially aligned with a respective one of the radial walls  56   b  that extend between the second central wall  57   b  and the outermost wall  58  of the element  50 . In addition, further radial walls  56   c  are provided between the second central wall  57   b  and the outermost wall  58  of the element  50 . In this example, the further “intermediate” radial walls  56   c  are positioned midway between the other radial walls  56   b  that extend between the second central wall  57   b  and the outermost wall  58  of the element  50 , though other arrangements are possible. 
     In the specific example of  FIG. 5 , there are 28 (twenty-eight) through holes  55  which are sized and arranged such that the overall porosity longitudinally through the element  50  is around 69% (that is, the total cross-sectional area defined by the through holes  55  is around 69% of the total cross-sectional area and the cross-sectional area defined by the radial walls  56  and the central walls  57  is around 31% of the total cross-sectional area). In general, a porosity of between around 60% to 75%, or more particularly around 65% to 72%, and even more particularly around 69% to 70%, has been found to perform well. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a schematic end view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element  60  for use with an apparatus for heating and volatilizing smokable material. In this example, the element  60  is again cylindrical having a circular cross-section (as can be seen in  FIG. 6 ), though again other cross-sectional shapes are possible. In this example, the element  60  is a monolithic rod, that is, the rod is a block of a single material, and has plural through holes or lumen  65 . 
     The example of  FIG. 6  is similar in many respects to the example of  FIG. 5  and similar options and alternatives to those discussed above are available. Accordingly, for the sake of brevity, the description of the same or similar aspects and options or alternatives will not be repeated here and only the main differences will be discussed. 
     In the example of  FIG. 6 , each radial wall  66   a  that extends between the innermost central wall  67   a  and the second central wall  67   b  is radially aligned with a respective one of the radial walls  66   b  that extend between the second central wall  67   b  and the outermost wall  68  of the element  60 , and vice versa. That is, compared with the example of  FIG. 5 , there are no intermediate radial walls between the outermost radial walls  66   b  (which are aligned with respective ones of the radial walls  66   a  that extend between the innermost central wall  67   a  and the second central wall  67   b , as discussed). In this example, there are 36 through holes  65  which are sized and arranged such that the overall porosity longitudinally through the element  60  is around 65% to 66%. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a schematic end view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element  70  for use with an apparatus for heating and volatilizing smokable material. In this example, the element  70  is again cylindrical having a circular cross-section (as can be seen in  FIG. 7 ), though again other cross-sectional shapes may be used. In this example, the element  70  is a monolithic rod, that is, the rod is a block of a single material, and has plural through holes or lumen  75 . 
     The example of  FIG. 7  is similar in many respects to the example of  FIG. 5  and similar options and alternatives to those discussed above are available. Accordingly, for the sake of brevity, the description of the same or similar aspects and options or alternatives will not be repeated here and only the main differences will be discussed. 
     Similarly to the example of  FIG. 5 , in the specific example of  FIG. 7 , each of the radial walls  76   a  that extends between the innermost central wall  77   a  and the second central wall  77   b  is radially aligned with a respective one of the radial walls  76   b  that extend between the second central wall  77   b  and the outermost wall  78  of the element  50 ; and, in addition, further radial walls  76   c  are provided between the second central wall  77   b  and the outermost wall  78  of the element  70 . In this example, the further “intermediate” radial walls  76   c  are positioned midway between the other radial walls  76   b  that that extend between the second central wall  77   b  and the outermost wall  78  of the element  70 , though other arrangements are possible. In this example, the radial or angular separation between radial walls is smaller than for the example for  FIG. 5 , so there are more through holes  75 . In this specific example, there are 40 (forty) through holes  75 ,  55  which are sized and arranged such that the overall porosity longitudinally through the element  70  is around 64%. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a schematic end view of another example of an aerosol-cooling element  80  for use with an apparatus for heating and volatilizing smokable material. In this example, the element  80  is again cylindrical having a cross-section (as can be seen in  FIG. 8 ), though other shapes are possible. In this example, the element  80  is a monolithic rod, that is, the rod is a block of a single material, and has plural through holes or lumen  85 ,  85 ′. In this example, the internal walls  86  of the element  80  are arranged such that the majority of the lumen  85  have a hexagonal cross-sectional shape when viewed from the end (as in  FIG. 8 ), or at least a generally hexagonal cross-sectional shape. It will be understood that the lumen  85 ′ at the periphery near the outermost wall  88  will have a different shape so as to accommodate the curved shape of the outermost wall  88 , and that likewise outermost peripheral walls of some lumen  85  may be curved slightly again to accommodate the shape of the outermost wall  88 . Nevertheless, as stated, the majority of the lumen  85  have a hexagonal cross-sectional shape or at least a generally hexagonal cross-sectional shape. In this way, the element  80  has what may be termed a honeycomb-like structure, which may have advantages in some applications. In this specific example, there are 19 (nineteen) hexagonal major through holes  85 , and  12  (twelve) non-hexagonal minor through holes  85 ′, which are sized and arranged such that the overall porosity longitudinally through the element  80  is around 70%. 
     Any of the elements  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  of  FIGS. 5 to 8  in one example is substantially incompressible, that is, the element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  is reasonably rigid and relatively large forces are required to compress the element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80 . In this way, the element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  can be self-supporting, requiring no further arrangement to support the element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  in use. 
     In one example, the element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  of  FIGS. 5 to 8  is formed of a ceramic material. A ceramic material is an inorganic, non-metallic material, often a crystalline oxide, nitride or carbide material. Suitable examples include silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), titanium carbide, and zirconium dioxide (zirconia), though other ceramic or non-ceramic materials may be used. In other examples the element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  of  FIGS. 5 to 8  is formed of at least one polymer. The polymer may be for example a thermoplastic, such as for example a polyolefin, a polyester, a polyamides (or nylon, including for example nylon 6), a polyacrylic, a polystyrene, a polyvinyl, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a polyether block amide; a polyolefin such as for example polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene and polymethylpentene; a polyester; a polyacrylic; a polystyrene; a polyvinyl such as for example ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol and polyvinyl chloride; and any copolymer thereof, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. 
     The element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  of  FIGS. 5 to 8  may be formed initially as a solid block and the through holes  55 ,  65 ,  75 ,  85  formed by piercing or boring through the block. More efficiently however, particularly in the case that the element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  of  FIGS. 5 to 8  is formed of at least one polymer, the element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  may be formed initially with the through holes  55 ,  65 ,  75 ,  85  for example by some suitable molding technique, which may optionally include extrusion and/or pultrusion for example. 
     As mentioned above, one application for cooling elements as described herein is in the main apparatus of a heating apparatus for heating smokable material, the main apparatus typically including a power supply, control circuitry and the like. Another application, also mentioned above, is for the cooling elements as described herein to be part of the consumable, which is inserted into or otherwise engaged with the main apparatus and discarded and replaced after use. The heater for heating the tobacco or other smokable material of the consumable may be provided as part of the main apparatus or the consumable or heaters may be provided in both in some cases. 
       FIG. 9  shows schematically an example of an arrangement  90  for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material and which incorporates a cooling element as described above. In this example, the arrangement  90  is a mouthpiece assembly  90 . The mouthpiece assembly  90  may be part of or engaged in use with the main apparatus of a heating apparatus for heating smokable material or as part of the consumable, which is inserted into or otherwise engaged with the main apparatus and discarded and replaced after use. For clarity and simplicity, the following description will be in terms of the mouthpiece assemblies described herein being a part of the consumable, it being understood that the mouthpiece assemblies described herein may alternatively be part of or engaged in use with the main apparatus of a heating apparatus. 
     In this example, the mouthpiece assembly  90  has a single cooling element  91 , which may be in accordance with any of the examples described above. On one side of the cooling element  91  (which in use is the mouth end), a first, mouth end hollow tube  92  abuts one end of the cooling element  91 . The mouth end tube  92  may be formed of for example paper, for example in the form of a spirally wound paper tube, cellulose acetate, cardboard, crimped paper, such as crimped heat resistant paper or crimped parchment paper, and polymeric materials, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), or some other suitable material. On the other side of the cooling element  91  is a second hollow tube  93  which spaces the cooling element  91  from the very hot part(s) of the main apparatus that heats the smokable material and thus protects the cooling element  91  from high temperatures, as well as helping to improve aerosol production as it can help to prevent condensation. The second tube  93  may again be formed of for example paper, for example in the form of a spirally wound paper tube, cellulose acetate, cardboard, crimped paper, such as crimped heat resistant paper or crimped parchment paper, and polymeric materials, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), or some other suitable material. The mouth end tube  92  and the second tube  93  provide support for the cooling element  91 . The mouth end tube  92  may have a filtering function and may sometimes be referred to as a tube filter. 
     The cooling element  91  in this example is located generally centrally of the mouthpiece assembly  90 , but in other examples may be located more or less towards one end or the other of the mouthpiece assembly  90 . In the example of  FIG. 9 , the mouth end tube  92 , the cooling element  91  and the second tube  93  are held together by a tipping paper  94  which is wrapped tightly round the mouth end tube  92 , the cooling element  91  and the second tube  93  to bind them together. In this sense, the mouthpiece assembly  90  is “pre-assembled”. In one specific example, the first, mouth end tube  92  may be 11 mm long, the cooling element  91  may be 19 mm long, and the second tube  93  may be 11 mm long, and the outside diameter of the mouthpiece assembly  90  as a whole may be 5.4 mm. Excluding the tipping paper  94 , the outside diameter of the cooling element  91 , the mouth end tube  92  and the second tube  93  may for example be in the range 5.13 mm to 5.25 mm, with 5.25 mm being one preferred option. Other dimensions may be used, depending on for example the particular application, the typical temperature of the incoming aerosol or vapor, the nature (material) of the aerosol or vapor and smokable material, etc. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , there is shown schematically an example of a consumable  100  for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. The consumable  100  has a mouthpiece assembly  101  and a cylindrical rod of smokable material  102 . The mouthpiece assembly  101  includes a cooling element which may be in accordance with any of the cooling elements described herein. In the example shown, the mouthpiece assembly  101  is generally the same as or similar to the mouthpiece assembly  91  described with reference to  FIG. 9 . That is, the mouthpiece assembly  101  is “pre-assembled”, with tipping paper  103  that is wrapped around the cooling element  104 , the mouth end tube  105  and the second tube  106 . In this case, the mouthpiece assembly  101  may then be joined to the smokable material  102  by a further tipping paper  107 , which is wrapped round the mouthpiece assembly  101  and at least the adjacent end of the smokable material  102 . In other examples, the mouthpiece assembly  101  is not pre-assembled and instead the consumable  100  is formed by wrapping a tipping paper  107  around the cooling element  104 , the mouth end tube  105 , the second tube  106  and the smokable material  102  effectively in one operation, with no separate tipping paper being provided for the components of the mouthpiece parts. 
       FIG. 11  shows schematically an example of a part-finished product  110  during an example of a manufacturing process for manufacturing arrangements for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material, the arrangements each incorporating a cooling element as described above. The part-finished product  110  has two cooling elements  111 ,  112 , which may be the same as or different from each other and which are each in accordance with any of the examples of cooling elements described herein. The two cooling elements  111 ,  112  are spaced from each other by a first, relatively long hollow tube  113 . Additional hollow tubes  114 ,  115  are provided on the opposite ends of the cooling elements  111 ,  112 . The tubes  113 ,  114 ,  115  may be formed of the same or different materials, and may for example be formed of any of the materials discussed in relation to the example of  FIG. 9 . The cooling elements  111 ,  112  and the tubes  113 ,  114 ,  115  may be joined to each other using tipping paper  116  which is wrapped tightly round cooling elements  111 ,  112  and the tubes  113 ,  114 ,  115  to bind them together. During manufacture, the central hollow tube  113  is cut through centrally, so as to provide two arrangements for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material, each of which incorporates a cooling element  111 ,  112  and each of which may be similar to the arrangement  90  as described above with reference to  FIG. 9 . It will be understood that this can be extended, so that further cooling elements with further spacing tubes may be provided in the part-finished product, to produce multiple arrangements as described herein. 
     Optionally, flavoring material may be included within any of the mouthpiece assemblies described herein. For example, a flavorant may be added to any of the tipping papers that are used in some examples to join components of the mouthpiece assembly together. Alternatively or additionally, one or more plugs of flavoring material may be introduced into one or more of the tubes of the mouthpiece assembly. Such a plug may for example be a cellulose acetate tow as a flavor carrier, to which a flavorant is added. As used herein, the terms “flavor” and “flavorant” refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste or aroma in a product for adult consumers. They may include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavor enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, or powder. 
     As mentioned above, a “consumable”, which comprises smokable material, at least one cooling element and optionally at least one spacer or support tube (which may also provide a filtering function), may have its own heater, provided as part of the consumable element or device which is disposed of by the user after use. Alternatively, the heater for heating the smokable material may be provided as a component of the main apparatus (which typically includes a power supply, control circuitry and the like) with which the consumable is engaged for use. An example of the latter type of apparatus for heating smokable material with which examples of embodiments of the present invention may be used is shown in our PCT/EP2014/072828 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/897,193, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show schematically a perspective view and a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of an example of apparatus  121  disclosed in our PCT/EP2014/072828 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/897,193, and  FIG. 14  shows schematically a cross-sectional perspective view of an example of a heater support sleeve and heating chamber suitable for use in the apparatus  121  of  FIGS. 12 and 13 . In  FIGS. 12 and 13 , there is shown a consumable  130  inserted into the apparatus  121 , the consumable  130  having at least a cooling element  131  in accordance with any of the examples described herein. The apparatus  121  is arranged to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of smokable material, typically to form an aerosol which can be inhaled. The apparatus  121  is a heating apparatus  121  which releases compounds by heating, but not burning, the smokable material. The apparatus  121  in this example is generally elongate, having a generally elongate cylindrical outer housing  122  of circular cross-section. The outer housing  122  has an open end  123 , sometimes referred to herein as the mouth end. 
     Referring particularly to the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 13 , the apparatus  121  has a heating chamber  124  which in use contains the smokable material  125  to be heated and volatilized. The smokable material  125  is provided as part of a cylindrical rod-like consumable  130 , which as mentioned in this example has a cooling element  121  which may be in accordance with any of the examples described above. The apparatus  121  further has an electronics/power chamber  126  which contains electrical control circuitry  127  and a power source  128 . The heating chamber  124  and the electronics/power chamber  126  are adjacent each other along the longitudinal axis X-X of the apparatus  121 . The electrical control circuitry  127  may include a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating of the smokable material  125 . The power source  128  may be a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. 
     The heating chamber  124  is contained within a heater support sleeve  129 , which is contained within the outer housing  122 . In this example, the heater support sleeve  129  is a generally elongate cylinder of circular cross-section. Further, and referring particularly to  FIG. 14 , the heater support sleeve  129  of this example is a double-walled sleeve. Thus, the heater support sleeve  129  has an outer cylindrical wall  129 ′ and an inner cylindrical wall  129 ″ which are separated by a small separation d. The outer and inner cylindrical walls  129 ′,  129 ″ are joined at each end. One of the functions of the heater support sleeve  129  is to assist in heat-insulating the outer housing  122  from the heating chamber  124 , so that the outer housing  122  does not become hot or at least too hot to touch during use. The space between the outer and inner cylindrical walls  129 ′,  129 ″ may contain for example air or may be evacuated to improve the heat insulating properties of the heater support sleeve  129 . As an alternative, the space between the outer and inner cylindrical walls  129 ′,  129 ″ may be filled with some other insulating material, including a suitable foam-type material for example. The heater support sleeve  129  is provides structural stability for the components mounted therein. 
     The heater support sleeve  129  contains at least one heating element. In the example shown in the drawings, the heater support sleeve  129  contains plural heating elements or heater segments  135 . There are preferably at least two heater segments  135 , though arrangements with other numbers of heater segments  135  are possible. In the particular example shown, there are four heater segments  135 . In this example, the heater segments  135  align along or parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X of the heater support sleeve  129 . The electrical control circuitry  127  and the power connections to the heater segments  135  are preferably arranged such that at least two, and more preferably all, of the heater segments  135  can be powered independently of each other, so that selected zones of the smokable material  125  can be independently heated, for example in turn (over time) or together (simultaneously) as desired. In this particular example, the heater segments  135  are generally annular or cylindrical, having a hollow interior which in use contains the smokable material  125 . In an example, the heater segments  135  may be made of a ceramics material. Examples include alumina and aluminum nitride and silicon nitride ceramics, which may be laminated and sintered. Other heating arrangements are possible, including for example infrared heater segments  135 , which heat by emitting infrared radiation, or resistive heating elements formed by for example a resistive electrical winding around the heater segments  135 . 
     In an example, one 135′ of the heater segments  135  may be such as to contain or define a volume that has a lower heat capacity or thermal mass, and/or itself may have a lower heat capacity or thermal mass, than the other heater segment or segments  135 . This means that, at least for the same or similar supplied power, the interior of the heater segment  135 ′ that has a lower heat capacity and/or defines a volume of lower heat capacity will heat more quickly than the interior of the other heater segments  135 . This means that the smokable material  125  in that heater segment  135 ′ will volatilize more quickly, which enables the user to inhale more quickly once the apparatus  121  is first put to use. It is preferred that this heater segment  135 ′ is close to the mouth end  123 , and it may therefore be for example the first or second heater segment  135  in sequence moving away from the mouth end  123 . In the example shown in  FIG. 13 , this heater segment  135 ′ is the second closest to the mouth end  123 . The heater segments  135  are mounted and supported within the heater support sleeve  129  by mechanical isolators  140 . The mechanical isolators  140  are rigid so as to provide mechanical, structural support for the heater segments  135 . The mechanical isolators  140  act to maintain a separation or air gap between the heater segments  135  and the heater support sleeve  129 , so as to reduce or minimize heat loss from the heater segments  135  to the heater support sleeve  129 . 
     In use, the user inserts a fresh consumable  130  into the apparatus  121 . The apparatus  121  is then activated to heat the smokable material  125 . After use, the user removes the used consumable  130  from the apparatus  121  and typically discards the used consumable  130 . 
     It has been found that using for example a cooling element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  as described above with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 8 , a reduction of temperature of the aerosol of around 50° C. can be achieved. As a generality, the more lumen that are present, the greater the internal surface area of the cooling element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80 , which tends to increase the amount of temperature reduction. Nevertheless, some structural rigidity is required of the cooling element  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80 , and the internal walls also serve to conduct heat away. For the cooling elements with radially arranged lumen, the number of lumen may in general be in the range 20 to 50 lumen, and for the cooling elements with hexagonal or other polygonally arranged lumen, the number of lumen may in general be in the range 15 to 25 lumen. 
     The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.