Patent Publication Number: US-2023136305-A1

Title: Aerosol generation apparatus and susceptor

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202010281797.2, filed on Apr. 11, 2020 and entitled “AEROSOL GENERATION APPARATUS AND SUSCEPTOR”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of heat-not-burnt smoking sets, and in particular relate to an aerosol generation apparatus and a susceptor. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Smoking articles (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, etc.) burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to replace these articles that burn tobacco by making products that release compounds without burning. 
     Examples of such products are heating apparatuses, which release compounds by heating, rather than burning materials. For example, the material may be tobacco or other non-tobacco products, and the non-tobacco products may or may not contain nicotine. In an existing heating apparatus example, the tobacco product is heated by an electromagnetic induction heating method, where an induction heating element, which is penetrated by a magnetic field to generate heat, is typically made of stainless iron or permalloy material with excellent magnetic permeability. The structure of the heating apparatus is shown in  FIG.  1   , when a smoking article  1  is received within the heating apparatus, a susceptor  2  is penetrated by an alternating magnetic field generated by an induction coil  3  to generate heat in an induction manner, thereby heating the smoking article  1 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the shape of the susceptor  2  may be a needle-like or a blade-like structure, which can be inserted into a cigarette  1  received within the apparatus for heating. When in use, the entire part, inserted into the cigarette  1 , of the susceptor  2  is in contact with tobacco shred of the cigarette  1 , such that the tobacco shred within the length range in contact with the susceptor  2  is heated to form relatively brittle slag, and when the cigarette  1  is removed from the heating apparatus, the slag falls into the apparatus and pollutes the apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     In order to solve the problem that in the prior art, a needle-type or blade-shaped susceptor is inserted into a cigarette to heat the cigarette, which causes slag falling, embodiments of the present application provide an aerosol generation apparatus capable of reducing slag falling and a susceptor. 
     The aerosol generation apparatus provided by the present application is used for heating a smokable material to generate an aerosol and includes: 
     a cavity, configured to receive the smokable material, and having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to each other along the axial direction; 
     a magnetic field generator, configured to generate a varying magnetic field; and 
     a susceptor, configured to be penetrated by the varying magnetic field to generate heat, and configured to at least partially extend from the distal end to the proximal end along the axial direction of the cavity, and then inserted into the smokable material for heating when the smokable material is received within the cavity in use; 
     where the susceptor includes an avoidance portion and a heating portion sequentially provided along the direction close to the proximal end; and the size of at least a part of the avoidance portion along the cross-sectional direction of the cavity is less than the size of the heating portion along the cross-sectional direction of the cavity, such that a certain gap is kept between the avoidance portion and the smokable material when the susceptor is inserted into the smokable material. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the extension length of the avoidance portion along the axial direction is 1-5 mm. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the size of at least a part of the avoidance portion along the cross-sectional direction of the cavity is 1-3 mm less than the size of the heating portion along the cross-sectional direction of the cavity. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the size of the heating portion along the cross-sectional direction of the cavity is substantially constant. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the size of the avoidance portion along the cross-sectional direction of the cavity is substantially constant. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the size of the avoidance portion along the cross-sectional direction of the cavity gradually increases along the direction close to the heating portion. 
     In a preferred embodiment, an accommodating cavity extending along the axial direction is provided within the susceptor, and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the susceptor is accommodated or packaged within the accommodating cavity. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the susceptor further includes a base portion, and the heating portion and the avoidance portion are retained within the cavity by means of the base portion. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the avoidance portion and the heating portion are configured to be in a sheet shape extending along the axial direction of the cavity, and the size of the avoidance portion along the width direction is less than the size of the heating portion along the width direction, such that the gap is formed between the avoidance portion and the smokable material along the width direction of the susceptor when at least a part of the susceptor is inserted into the smokable material. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the avoidance portion at the distal end of the cavity is flush with a surface of the distal end of the cavity. 
     The present application further provides a susceptor for an aerosol generation apparatus, for being inserted into a smokable material received within the aerosol generation apparatus for heating, where the susceptor includes a heating portion and an avoidance portion sequentially provided along the length direction, and the size of at least a part of the avoidance portion along the cross-sectional direction of the cavity is less than the size of the heating portion along the cross-sectional direction of the cavity, such that a certain gap is retained between the avoidance portion and the smokable material when the susceptor is inserted into the smokable material. 
     When the aerosol generation apparatus and the susceptor are in use, the front end, inserted into the cavity, of the smokable material is less heated without forming scorch or brittle slag and has a better physical form, such that when the smokable material is removed from the cavity, tobacco slag falling out from the inside can be retained and blocked, reducing falling of the tobacco slag and keeping the cavity and the susceptor clean. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       One or more embodiments are illustrated by pictures in the corresponding accompanying drawings, which are not intended to limit the embodiments, in which elements having the same reference numerals represent similar elements, and the figures of the accompanying drawings are not intended to constitute a scale limitation unless specifically stated otherwise. 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus in the prior art; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generation apparatus according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic structural diagram of a susceptor in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic structural diagram of a susceptor according to another embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic structural diagram of a susceptor according to another embodiment; 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic structural diagram of a susceptor according to another embodiment; 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic structural diagram of a susceptor according to another embodiment; and 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic diagram of a temperature sensor packaged within the susceptor in  FIG.  7   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To facilitate the understanding of the present application, the present application will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. 
     An embodiment of the present application provides an aerosol generation apparatus, and the configuration of which is shown in  FIG.  2   , including: 
     a cavity, within which a smokable material A such as a cigarette is removably received; 
     an inductance coil L, used as a magnetic field generator and configured to generate an alternating magnetic field under alternating current; 
     a susceptor  30 , at least a part of which extends within the cavity, and configured to be inductively coupled to the induction coil L, and penetrated by the alternating magnetic field to generate heat, so as to heat the smokable material A to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material A to form an aerosol for smoking; 
     a battery cell  10 , which is a rechargeable direct-current battery cell and can provide direct voltage and direct current; and 
     a circuit  20 , electrically connected to the rechargeable battery cell  10 , and configured to convert the direct current output by the battery cell  10  into the alternating current with a suitable frequency, and then supply the same to the inductance coil L. 
     In implementation, the smokable material A may be one or more smoking materials including powder, granules, pellets, shreds, strands, strips or sheets wrapped by an outer wrapper, e.g., wrapping paper, specifically including: one or more of grass leaves, tobacco leaves, main vein of tobacco, expanded tobacco, homogenized tobacco, and glycerin as an aerosol generation agent, such that a smokable aerosol can be generated when heated. 
     Depending on the configuration in product use, the inductance coil L may include a cylindrical inductor coil wound into a spiral, as shown in  FIG.  2   . The cylindrical inductance coil L wound into a spiral may have a radius r within the range of about 5 mm to about 10 mm, and particularly the radius r may be about 7 mm. The length of the cylindrical inductance coil L wound into a spiral may be within the range of about 8 mm to about 14 mm, and the number of turns of the inductance coil L is within the range of about 8 turns to 15 turns. Accordingly, the inner volume may be within the range of about 0.15 cm 3  to about 1.10 cm 3 . 
     In a more preferred embodiment, the frequency of an alternating current supplied to the inductance coil L by the circuit  20  is between 80 KHz and 400 KHz; more specifically, the frequency may be within the range of about 200 KHz to 300 KHz. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the battery cell  10  provides a direct current supply voltage within the range of about 2.5 V to about 9.0 V, and the battery cell  10  can provide a direct current with the amperage within the range of about 2. 5 A to about 20 A. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2   , the aerosol generation apparatus further includes a tubular bracket  40  for configuring the induction coil L and the susceptor  30 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the tubular bracket  40  may be made of a high temperature resistant non-metallic material such as PEEK or ceramic. In implementation, at least a part of the inner space of the tubular bracket  40  forms a cavity for receiving the smokable material A, while the induction coil L is arranged on the outer wall of the tubular bracket  40  in a spirally winding manner. 
     Furthermore, according to the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the cavity formed by a tubular hollow of the tubular bracket  40  has a proximal end  41  and a distal end  42  opposite to each other along the axial direction. The proximal end  41  is configured to be open, facilitating receipt and removal of the smokable material A. The distal end  42  is a closed end for the smokable material A to abut against so as to provide a stop for the smokable material A, while the susceptor  30  extends from the distal end  42  to the proximal end  41 . 
     Furthermore, the configuration of the susceptor  30  can be seen in  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3   , substantially in the shape of a needle or pin configured to at least partially extend along the axial direction of the cavity. In implementation, the entire susceptor  30  may have a length within the range of about 12-18 mm, and an outer diameter of about 2.5-5 mm. In detail, the susceptor includes, in sequence along the axial direction: 
     a heating portion  31 , located within the cavity after assembly and used for being inserted into the smokable material A for heating; and 
     an avoidance portion  32 , located within the cavity after assembly, having an outer diameter less than the heating portion  31 , capable of keeping a certain gap  50  with the smokable material A and thus in a non-contact state when being inserted into the smokable material A along with the heating portion  31  in use. Therefore, the part, in contact with the heating portion  31 , of the smokable material A can be heated more through contact transfer, and the part corresponding to the avoidance portion  32  can be heated less, preventing the part of the front end of the smokable material A from being heated to form scorch or brittle solid slag. Consequently, after smoking is completed, the part of the front end of the smokable material A has a better form and is substantially unattached to the susceptor  30 , which can reduce the falling of tobacco slag or fragments when the smokable material A is removed from the cavity and thus separated from the susceptor  30 . 
     Certainly, furthermore, according to  FIG.  2   , based on the distal end  42  of the cavity after installation is configured to allow the smokable material to abut against and provide a stop, such that the avoidance portion  32  at the distal end  42  is flush with a surface of the distal end  42  of the cavity in implementation. 
     Based on an optional embodiment, it is optional to configure the length of the avoidance portion  32  to be about 1-5 mm, and the outer diameter of the same to be 1-3 mm less than the outer diameter of the heating portion  31 . 
     Furthermore, referring to  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3   , to facilitate installation and fixation of the susceptor  30  within the tubular bracket  40 , the susceptor  30  further includes: 
     a first base portion  33 , and a second base portion  34  having an outer diameter greater than that of the first base portion  33 . When in use, a retaining cavity which fixes and retains the susceptor  30  by abutting against the second base portion  34  is correspondingly provided within the tubular bracket  40 , thereby enabling the susceptor  30  to be stably mounted in the tubular bracket  40 . In light of convenience in use, the size of the outer diameter of the second base portion  34  is relatively greater than that of the heating portion  31 . 
     In terms of functional design, the outer diameter of the heating portion  31  is substantially constant to ensure that the heating portion  31  of the susceptor  30  can be sufficiently in contact with the smokable material A when inserted into the same, thereby sufficiently performing heat conduction. On the basis of being able to form the gap  50 , the outer diameter of the avoidance portion  32  may be inconstant. 
     For example, the configuration of a susceptor  30   a  according to another variant embodiment is shown in  FIG.  4   , the part, close to a heating portion  31   a , of an avoidance portion  32   a  is configured to have a shape with a gradually increasing outer diameter, such that the surface thereof is a slantingly cambered surface or the like, and lower frictional resistance with the susceptor  30   a  is caused when the smokable material A is removed, promoting the smokable material A to be more smoothly separated from the susceptor  30   a  and thus reducing falling of tobacco slag. The base portion  33   a  is configured to assist in the installation and fixation of the susceptor  30   a.    
     In another variant embodiment shown in  FIG.  5   , the entire and a heating portion  31   b  of a susceptor  30   b  are configured to be generally blade-like, thereby having a larger surface area for contact with the smokable material A and transfer of heat to the same. Specifically, the avoidance portion  32   b  is formed by notches which are provided inwardly on both sides of the susceptor  30   b  along the width direction. Meanwhile, in order to facilitate installation, a first base portion  33   b  and a second base portion  34   b  with different outer diameters are further provided, which can facilitate abutting and fixation after installation. 
     In light of the convenience of production and replacement, the configuration of a susceptor  30   c  according to another optional embodiment shown in  FIG.  6    is composed of two parts spliced, and specifically, includes: 
     a heating portion  31   c  and an avoidance portion  32   c , which can be made of metal materials with proper magnetic permeability, such as permalloy and stainless iron, which can be penetrated by a magnetic field to generate heat; and 
     a first base portion  33   c  and a second base portion  34   c , which specifically may be made of a low thermal conductivity just paper material, e.g., an oxidized ceramic, an alumina ceramic or an organic polymer material, such that after the susceptor  30  is assembled into the tubular bracket  40 , heat conduction can be minimized to prevent thermal damage to the tubular bracket  40 ; where the first base portion  33   c  is provided with a slot  331   c , and at least a part of the avoidance portion  32   c  is inserted into the slot  331   c  and then is tightly fit or fixed into a whole during assembly. Certainly, the extension length of the slot  311   c  is less than the length of the avoidance portion  32   c , and after assembly, a part of the avoidance portion  32   c  is still exposed to form the above gap  50  in use. 
     In another optional embodiment shown in  FIG.  7    and  FIG.  8   , a susceptor  30   d  is internally provided with an accommodating cavity extending along the axial direction. The accommodating cavity is provided with a first portion  351   d  extending along the axial direction of a heating portion  31   d  and an avoidance portion  32   d , and a second portion  352   d  extending along the axial direction of a first base portion  33   d  and a second base portion  34   d . When in use, a temperature sensor  60   d  for sensing a temperature of the susceptor  30   d  is packaged within the accommodating cavity, and the temperature sensor  60   d  is tightly attached to the inner wall of the heating portion  31   d  in a gluing manner or the like so as to sense a heating temperature. Certainly, conductive pins of the temperature sensor  60   d  can extend out of the second base portion  34   d  to facilitate connection of the temperature sensor  60   d  to a circuit  20 , and facilitate the supply of power to the temperature sensor  60   d  and receipt of sensing signals. 
     In use of the above aerosol generation apparatus, within the range of about several millimeters of the front end, inserted into the cavity, of the smokable material A, the smokable material A is not in contact with the susceptor  30  and has a gap about several millimeters therebetween, such that the part of the front end, inserted into the cavity, of the smokable material A is less heated, does not form scorch or brittle slag, and has a better physical form. When the smokable material A is removed from the cavity after smoking, tobacco slag falling out from the inside can be retained and blocked, keeping the cavity and the susceptor clean. 
     It should be noted that the preferred embodiments of the present application are given in the description and the accompanying drawings of the present application, but are not limited to the embodiments described in the description, and furthermore, for those of ordinary skill in the art, improvements or transformations can be made according to the above description, and all these improvements and transformations should fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of the present application.