Patent Description:
The popularity and use of reduced-risk or modified-risk devices (also known as vaporisers) has grown rapidly in the past few years as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. Various devices and systems are available that heat or warm aerosolisable substances as opposed to burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products.

A commonly available reduced-risk or modified-risk device is the heated substrate aerosol generation device or heat-not-burn device. Devices of this type generate an aerosol or vapour by heating an aerosol substrate that typically comprises moist leaf tobacco or other suitable aerosolisable material to a temperature typically in the range <NUM> to <NUM>. Heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or burning it, releases an aerosol that comprises the components sought by the user but not the toxic and carcinogenic byproducts of combustion and burning. Furthermore, the aerosol produced by heating the tobacco or other aerosolisable material does not typically comprise the burnt or bitter taste resulting from combustion and burning that can be unpleasant for the user and so the substrate does not therefore require the sugars and other additives that are typically added to such materials to make the smoke and/or vapour more palatable for the user.

<FIG> schematically show an aerosol generation device <NUM> that illustrates a technical problem considered by the inventors.

The aerosol generation device <NUM> comprises a body <NUM> comprising a heating chamber <NUM> for heating a consumable <NUM>. The heating chamber <NUM> comprises a penetrative heater <NUM> arranged to penetrate into an aerosol substrate <NUM> of the consumable <NUM>.

The aerosol generation device <NUM> also comprises a cap <NUM> adapted to receive the consumable. The cap <NUM> comprises an aperture <NUM> which allows the penetrative heater <NUM> to pass through the cap <NUM> and penetrate the consumable.

This configuration allows the cap to be used as a retractor for separating the consumable <NUM> from the penetrative heater <NUM>.

However, there is a problem in that the consumable <NUM> may leave debris in the aerosol generation device when the consumable is removed. For example, the aerosol substrate <NUM> may comprise a dried or powdered material held tightly or loosely in a wrapper. This dried or powdered material may leak out of an end of the consumable <NUM>. In particular, the penetrative heater <NUM> may reduce the structural integrity of the aerosol substrate <NUM> within the consumable, and increase the likelihood that debris is left when the consumable is removed. Such debris may remain in the cap <NUM> or may pass through the aperture <NUM> into the heating chamber <NUM>.

Any debris left by consumables must be removed. Otherwise the cap and coating chamber may become increasingly coated with stuck debris, reducing the heating efficiency of the aerosol generation device, and/or reducing the amount of aerosol which the device can generate from a consumable. Furthermore, even with diligent cleaning, some stuck debris will eventually build up, limiting the lifetime of the aerosol generation device.

It is therefore desirable to provide means for easily keeping the aerosol generation device clean.

<CIT> describes a non-burning smoking device, comprising: a heater, the heater being used for heating an aerosol-forming matrix of a smoke-producing article and being configured to be inserted into the inside of the aerosol-forming matrix; and an extractor, the extractor being used for receiving the aerosol-forming matrix of the smoke-producing article, the extractor being able to move between an operation position and an extraction position; in the operation position, the heater is in contact with the aerosol-forming matrix to heat the aerosol-forming matrix during heating; in the extraction position, the heater is partially pulled out of the aerosol-forming matrix of the smoke-producing article, but still has a part remaining in contact with the aerosol-forming matrix.

<CIT> describes a needle-type heater comprising a needle-shaped heating body and a heat generating element. The needle-shaped heating body includes a tapered cap and a heater base that is connected to the bottom portion of the tapered cap. The heat generating element is attached to the heater base by means of a print coating process. A preparation method of the needle-type heater and an electrically heated cigarette having the needle-type heater are also provided. The needle-type heater can sufficiently heat a tobacco product. Furthermore, it is more convenient to insert a tobacco product into the heating chamber, such that tobacco product replacement can be easily conducted. Therefore, more convenient usage is achieved.

<CIT> describes a cigarette heating device for heating a cigarette that includes a main sleeve unit, a central heater, a movable element, an internal cup, and a restoring element. The main sleeve unit presets a first position and a second position along an axial direction. The movable element is movable between the first position and the second position. The internal cup is configured for receiving the cigarette. The internal cup is in linkage relation with the movable element. When the movable element is in the first position, the internal cup is adjacent to the central heater, so that the central heater heats the cigarette. When the movable element is in the second position, the internal cup is away from the central heater, so that the central heater is separated from the cigarette. The restoring element is configured for driving the movable element to restore from the second position to the first position.

According to a first aspect, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generation device as set out in claim <NUM>.

Optionally, the second side wall and the second end wall comprise a material with a thermal conductivity of at least <NUM> W/m.

Optionally, the second side wall and/or the second end wall comprises a metallic material or graphite.

Optionally, the inner chamber is configured to retain debris from the consumable and adapted to be removed from the heating chamber for cleaning.

Optionally, the cap is adapted to engage with the body.

Optionally, the cap comprises an inhibitor portion adapted to prevent the inner chamber from moving while the cap is engaged with the body.

Optionally, the cap comprises an opening adapted to receive the consumable and to allow the consumable to be inserted into and removed from the heating chamber.

Optionally, the cap further comprises an outer tubular portion arranged to fit over at least part of the body in the holding position of the inner chamber.

Optionally, the cap comprises an inner tubular portion arranged to abut against the inner chamber in position in the heating chamber.

Optionally, the inner chamber comprises a flange adapted to remain outside the heating chamber.

Optionally, a thermal conductivity of the flange is substantially lower than a thermal conductivity of the second side wall and the second end wall.

Optionally, the aerosol generation device further comprises a side heater arranged to supply heat into the heating chamber through the first side wall.

Optionally, the second side wall and the second end wall are adapted to reflect heat within the heating chamber.

Optionally, respective inner surfaces of the second side wall and the second end wall comprise a heat reflective layer or a heat reflective coating.

Optionally, the first side wall and first end wall comprise a heat resistant material, such as PEEK.

Optionally, the heating chamber comprises a tubular insulation.

Optionally, the body or the inner chamber comprises an attachment part for releasably attaching the inner chamber to the body.

Optionally, the cap or the inner chamber comprises an attachment part for releasably attaching the inner chamber to the cap.

Optionally, the cap or the inner chamber are attached by a friction fit or screw fit connection.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described by reference to the following figures.

<FIG> schematically illustrate cross-sections of an aerosol generation device <NUM> for heating a consumable <NUM> comprising a columnar portion of aerosol substrate <NUM>, according to an embodiment. <FIG> is an exploded view of components of the device <NUM> which are separable by a user of the device. <FIG> is an assembled view of the device <NUM> ready to receive a consumable.

The aerosol generation device <NUM> comprises a body <NUM>, a cap <NUM> and an inner chamber <NUM>.

The body <NUM> comprises a heating chamber for heating the columnar portion. The heating chamber comprises a first side wall <NUM> and a first end wall <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first side wall and the first end wall define an elongate chamber for receiving the columnar portion of aerosol substrate. For example, the chamber may be cylindrical or may have a polygon cross-section. The first end wall may be flat, or may have an approximately concave or convex shape.

The heating chamber further comprises a penetrative heater <NUM> protruding from the first end wall <NUM> into the heating chamber. More specifically, the penetrative heater <NUM> is arranged such that, when a consumable <NUM> is inserted into the heating chamber, the penetrative heater <NUM> penetrates into the columnar portion of aerosol substrate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the heating chamber further comprises a tubular insulation <NUM> surrounding the first side wall <NUM> and the first end wall <NUM>. The tubular insulation <NUM> reduces heat leakage from the heating chamber, and improves the efficiency of the heating chamber. Additionally, if the body <NUM> comprises heat sensitive components, the tubular insulation <NUM> helps to protect these while achieving a temperature in the heating chamber required for aerosol generation.

The body <NUM> may also contain means for controlling heating in the heating chamber. For example, the body <NUM> may contain an electrical power supply and control circuitry. These may be examples of heat sensitive components.

The inner chamber <NUM> is adapted to be removably inserted into the heating chamber, such that the inner chamber can be separate, as shown in <FIG>, or in the heating chamber, as shown in <FIG>. The inner chamber <NUM> is also adapted to receive the consumable.

More specifically, the inner chamber comprises a second side wall <NUM> and a second end wall <NUM>. The second side wall <NUM> is sized to fit within the first side wall <NUM> of the heating chamber and to contain the columnar portion <NUM> of the consumable <NUM>. Like the first side wall, the second side wall may, for example, have a cylindrical shape or a polygon cross section. Similarly, the second end wall <NUM> is sized to fit within the heating chamber.

Additionally, the second end wall <NUM> comprises an aperture <NUM> adapted to fit around the penetrative heater <NUM>. This allows the penetrative heater <NUM> to pass through the inner chamber <NUM> and penetrate the consumable.

The second end wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM> are adapted to spread heat from the penetrative heater <NUM>. For example, the second side wall <NUM> and the second end wall <NUM> may be made of a thermally conductive material, for example a metallic material such as copper or aluminium, and the aperture <NUM> may be adapted to fit closely around the penetrative heater <NUM> such that heat from the penetrative heater <NUM> is conducted through the second side wall <NUM> and the second end wall <NUM>. With this arrangement, the consumable is heated both internally, directly from the penetrative heater <NUM>, and externally, from the inner chamber <NUM>. Surfaces which heat the consumable are typically the most difficult to clean, for example due to curing effects on debris from the consumable <NUM>. As a result, this embodiment emphasises the advantage of an inner chamber <NUM> which can be cleaned and replaced independently from the body <NUM> or the cap <NUM>.

Additionally, in this embodiment, the inner chamber <NUM> comprises a flange <NUM> adapted to remain outside the heating chamber. In this embodiment the flange has an outer diameter which is wider than the heating chamber, such that the flange does not fit into the heating chamber. The flange <NUM> has the benefit of making it easier to grip and remove the inner chamber <NUM> from the heating chamber. Furthermore, the flange <NUM> provides a surface against which the inhibitor portion can abut.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flange <NUM> has a substantially lower thermal conductivity than the second side wall <NUM> and the second end wall <NUM>. For example, in embodiments where the second side wall <NUM> and the second end wall <NUM> comprise a metallic material, the flange <NUM> may comprise e.g. rubber, heat resistant plastic or cork. This lower thermal conductivity improves safety by preventing a user from burning their hand when removing an inner chamber <NUM> from the device, even if the device has recently been used to heat a consumable. Additionally, using a flange <NUM> with low thermal conductivity means that the material for the cap <NUM> can be more freely chosen without needing to tolerate high temperatures. Alternatively, the entire inner chamber <NUM> may be constructed from a single material, for simplicity of manufacturing.

The cap <NUM> is adapted to hold the inner chamber in the heating chamber.

For example, in this embodiment, the cap <NUM> comprises an inhibitor portion adapted to prevent the inner chamber <NUM> from moving while the cap is engaged with the body <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the cap <NUM> comprises an opening <NUM> adapted to receive the consumable <NUM> and to allow the consumable to be inserted into and removed from the heating chamber, as shown in <FIG>. Specifically, in this embodiment, the cap <NUM> comprises an outer tubular portion <NUM> and an inner tubular portion <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The cap <NUM> may optionally further comprise a lid (not shown) for closing the opening <NUM>, in order to keep the heating chamber clean when not in use.

The outer tubular portion <NUM> is arranged to fit over at least part of the body when in a position to hold the inner chamber <NUM>. In other words, the outer tubular portion <NUM> is arranged to fit around part of the body <NUM>. This provides a surface for the cap <NUM> to engage with the body <NUM>, and increases the mechanical security of the aerosol generation device by making it more difficult to accidentally detach the cap <NUM>.

The inner tubular portion <NUM> is arranged to abut against the inner chamber <NUM>, more particularly against flange <NUM>, when the device is assembled as shown in <FIG>, with the inner chamber <NUM> in position in the heating chamber. In other words, the inner tubular portion <NUM> is arranged to both provide a tube through which the consumable may be inserted into and removed from the heating chamber, and to provide the inhibitor portion described above.

<FIG> schematically show a process for removing debris from the above-described aerosol generation device.

As shown in <FIG>, after a consumable <NUM> has been used in the aerosol generation device <NUM> and then removed from the device, some debris <NUM> may be left behind in the device. This debris may, for example, be powder residue or dried leaf residue of the aerosol substrate. Because the consumable <NUM> has been received in the inner chamber <NUM> within the heating chamber, the debris <NUM> rests in the inner chamber.

Firstly, as shown in <FIG>, the cap <NUM> is removed in order to release the inner chamber <NUM>.

Next, as shown in <FIG>, the inner chamber <NUM> is removed from the heating chamber. This may be achieved by a user gripping the flange <NUM>. When the inner chamber <NUM> is removed, the debris <NUM> is carried with it.

Since the inner chamber <NUM> is a relatively small part without a deep channel as in the cap <NUM> of <FIG>, the inner chamber <NUM> may be easily cleaned to its corners.

Furthermore, as described above, the body <NUM> may contain control circuitry. By enabling separation of the inner chamber <NUM> from the body <NUM>, it becomes possible to use additional cleaning mechanisms, such as water, for removing the debris <NUM> from where it is most likely to be in the device <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically illustrate alternative inner chambers <NUM> which may be used in the above-described embodiment. As mentioned above, the aperture <NUM> is adapted to fit around the penetrative heater <NUM>. Accordingly, embodiments using different shapes of penetrative heater <NUM> also use corresponding different shapes of aperture <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the aperture <NUM> may be circular. This shape of aperture <NUM> is suitable for a circular penetrative heater <NUM>. The circular penetrative heater <NUM> could, for example, end in a point as illustrated in the figures, or could have a punch-shaped tip or a crown-shaped tip.

As shown in <FIG>, the aperture <NUM> could instead be a relatively long and thin rectangle <NUM>'. This shape is suitable for a blade-shaped penetrative heater <NUM>.

These are just two examples, and, in general any shape of penetrative heater <NUM> and corresponding shape of the aperture <NUM> may be used.

As a variant of the above described embodiments, two or more of the body <NUM>, the cap <NUM> and the inner chamber <NUM> may be adapted to attach to each other. This has the advantage of securing the device <NUM> when it is used by a user for generating an aerosol from a consumable.

For example, the body <NUM> or the inner chamber <NUM> may comprise an attachment part for releasably attaching the inner chamber to the body. The attachment part may, for example, take the form of a friction fit surface, a screw fit surface, a releasable resilient clip or a manually-engaged fastener. Furthermore, the first side wall <NUM> or the penetrative heater <NUM> may comprise a protrusion or recess for engaging with a complementary feature on the second side wall <NUM> or the aperture <NUM> of the inner chamber <NUM>.

More preferably, the cap <NUM> or the inner chamber <NUM> comprises an attachment part for releasably attaching the inner chamber to the cap. This may similarly be achieved by a friction fit, a screw fit, a releasable resilient attachment, or a manually-engaged fastener. By releasably attaching the inner chamber to the cap, it becomes possible to use the cap <NUM> as a handle to remove the inner chamber <NUM>, in the same way that the previous device of <FIG> is operated. Once the cap <NUM> and inner chamber <NUM> have been separated from the body <NUM> after a consumable has been used and debris <NUM> has been left, the inner chamber <NUM> can be separated from the cap <NUM> for easy cleaning, or for replacing the inner chamber <NUM> with a new, clean inner chamber.

Additionally, in order to hold the inner chamber <NUM> in the inner chamber, the cap <NUM> and the body <NUM> may be adapted to releasably attach to each other, for example, the cap <NUM> and the body <NUM> may have complementary features for rotationally interlocking with each other. More specifically, the cap <NUM> and the body <NUM> may be adapted to form a screw fit.

In other embodiments, the body <NUM>, the inner chamber <NUM> and the cap <NUM> may not be attached to each other, and the device <NUM> may rely on gravity and being held with the correct orientation, in order to remain assembled as shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a further embodiment of an aerosol generation device <NUM>.

The aerosol generation device <NUM> of <FIG> is largely similar to the aerosol generation device <NUM> of <FIG>, and differs only in that it additionally comprises a side heater <NUM> arranged to supply heat into the heating chamber through the first side wall <NUM>.

The side heater <NUM> may extend across the whole of the first side wall, from the end to end of the heater chamber and all the way around the heater chamber, or may extend across one or more parts of the first side wall.

In order for the side heater <NUM> to heat the consumable <NUM>, heat must pass through or around the inner chamber <NUM>.

In order for heat to pass through the inner chamber <NUM>, the inner chamber preferably comprises a metallic material and the second side wall <NUM> is adapted to conform closely against the first side wall <NUM>. Air may flow around the consumable within the inner chamber <NUM> or may enter through the bottom of the heating chamber. The inner chamber <NUM> may be provided with axially arranged inward protrusions to support air flow between the inner chamber <NUM> and the consumable <NUM>.

On the other hand, if heat passes around the inner chamber <NUM>, the second side wall <NUM> may be provided with one or more additional apertures aligned with the side heater <NUM> to allow heat to pass from the first side wall <NUM> to the consumable <NUM>.

In embodiments where a side heater <NUM> is not present, the second side wall <NUM> and the second end wall <NUM> of the inner chamber <NUM> are adapted to reflect heat within the heating chamber, to reduce an amount of heat from the penetrative heater <NUM> that reaches and/or is lost through the first side wall <NUM>.

For example, inner surfaces of the second side wall <NUM> and second end wall <NUM> may comprise a heat reflective coating or heat reflective layer comprising, for example, a metal.

In order to further reduce heat which passes out of the heating chamber, the first side wall <NUM> and first end wall <NUM> may comprise a heat resistant material. Herein, a heat resistant material is a material with low thermal conductivity and high heat capacity. For example, the heat resistant material may be a plastic, such as PEEK.

Additionally, an outer surface of the second side wall <NUM> and second end wall <NUM> may comprise the heat resistant material.

Many other modifications of the above-described aerosol generation devices are possible within the scope of the attached claims. Example modifications are described below.

In the above-described embodiments, the body <NUM> comprises tubular insulation. However, in other embodiments, the tubular insulation <NUM> may be omitted. For example, in some embodiments, it may be sufficient to keep heat sensitive components at a distance from the heating chamber.

In the above-described embodiments, the second side wall <NUM> and second end wall <NUM> are adapted to spread heat. However, in other background examples, such heat spreading properties may be omitted from the inner chamber <NUM>. For example, the inner chamber <NUM> may be constructed from a thermal insulator such as a plastic or a ceramic.

In the above-described embodiments, the cap <NUM> comprises an inhibitor portion adapted to prevent the inner chamber <NUM> from moving. However, in other embodiments, the cap <NUM> may prevent the inner chamber <NUM> from leaving the heating chamber without entirely preventing movement of the inner chamber <NUM>. For example, the cap <NUM> may have a stop means configured to delimit an end of a range of motion of the inner chamber <NUM>. The inner chamber <NUM> may be configured to hold the consumable <NUM> tightly such that when the consumable <NUM> is removed, the inner chamber <NUM> moves with the consumable <NUM>, along the range of motion, until the columnar portion of aerosol substrate <NUM> is partly or completely free from the penetrative heater <NUM>. As the consumable is removed further, the inner chamber <NUM> is stopped by the stop means, and the consumable <NUM> moves out of the inner chamber <NUM>. By holding the consumable <NUM> tightly as it is partly or fully freed from the penetrative heater <NUM>, the amount of debris left by a consumable may be reduced.

In the above-described embodiments, the cap comprises an opening <NUM>. However, other embodiments do not have such an opening <NUM>. For example, the cap <NUM> may comprise a mouthpiece and a filter, and the cap <NUM> and the body <NUM> may be adapted to entirely enclose the consumable <NUM> within the device <NUM>. In such embodiments, rather than expecting a user to remove the consumable <NUM> from the heating chamber, the device may comprise an actuator for inserting the consumable <NUM> into the heating chamber and/or removing the consumable from the heating chamber.

In alternative embodiments, one or both of the inner and outer tubular portions <NUM>, <NUM> may be omitted. For example, the inner tubular portion may be omitted in a case where the outer tubular portion is arranged to act as a stop means, or where the cap <NUM> is a shorter structure which only extends to cover one end of the body <NUM>. Similarly, the outer tubular portion may be omitted if the cap <NUM> is configured to attach to an end of the body <NUM> without extending around the body <NUM>. Furthermore, the cap <NUM> may be a solid element extending between an inner surface and an outer surface, such that there is no inner or outer portion.

In the above-described embodiments, the inner chamber <NUM> comprises a flange <NUM>. In alternative embodiments, this may be omitted. For example, in the above-described alternative where the inner chamber <NUM> is configured to hold the consumable tightly along a range of motion, this may itself be sufficient to achieve the flange's benefit of making it easier to remove the inner chamber <NUM> from the heating chamber, such that the flange <NUM> is redundant and may be omitted. Additionally, the inner chamber <NUM> may be adapted to fit loosely in the heating chamber. Accordingly, when the cap <NUM> (which holds the inner chamber in the heating chamber) is removed, the inner chamber may be simply able to fall out when the aerosol generation device <NUM> is turned such that an open end of the heating chamber faces downwards.

Additionally, it should be noted that, although the body <NUM>, cap <NUM> and inner chamber <NUM> are described as parts of an aerosol generation device, these parts are separable (as described above), and each of the body <NUM>, cap <NUM> and inner chamber <NUM> may occur individually. For example, an inner chamber <NUM> as described above may be distributed on its own as a spare part for the aerosol generation device <NUM>. As explained further above, by enabling replacement of just the inner chamber <NUM>, the lifetime of the aerosol generation device may be extended while only replacing a minimal part which is most at risk of deterioration due to debris remaining in the device.

In particular, the present invention also provides a chamber <NUM> adapted to be inserted as an inner chamber into a heating chamber of an aerosol generation device <NUM>. The chamber is also adapted to receive a consumable <NUM>. The chamber <NUM> comprises a side wall <NUM> and an end wall <NUM>. The end wall <NUM> comprises an aperture <NUM> adapted to fit around a penetrative heater <NUM> of the heating chamber. The end wall <NUM> and the side wall <NUM> are adapted to spread heat from the penetrative heater <NUM> to the consumable <NUM>.

It will be appreciated from the description above that many features of the described embodiment perform independent functions with independent benefits. Therefore the inclusion or omission of each of these independent features from embodiments of the invention defined in the claims can be independently chosen.

The term "heater" should be understood to mean any device for outputting thermal energy sufficient to form an aerosol from the aerosol substrate. The transfer of heat energy from the penetrative heater <NUM> or the side heater <NUM> to the aerosol substrate may be conductive, convective, radiative or any combination of these means.

Heaters may be electrically powered, powered by combustion, or by any other suitable means. Electrically powered heaters may include resistive track elements (optionally including insulating packaging), induction heating systems (e.g. including an electromagnet and high frequency oscillator), etc..

The aerosol generation device may have control circuitry having a single user operable button to trigger the aerosol generation device to turn on. This keeps the control simple and reduces the chances that a user will misuse the aerosol generation device or fail to control the aerosol generation device correctly. In some cases, however, the input controls available to a user may be more complex than this, for example to control the temperature, e.g. within pre-set limits, to change the flavour balance of the vapour, or to switch between power saving or quick heating modes, for example.

Aerosol substrate includes tobacco, for example in dried or cured form, in some cases with additional ingredients for flavouring or producing a smoother or otherwise more pleasurable experience. In some examples, the aerosol substrate such as tobacco may be treated with a vaporising agent. The vaporising agent may improve the generation of vapour from the aerosol substrate. The vaporising agent may include, for example, a polyol such as glycerol, or a glycol such as propylene glycol. In some cases, the aerosol substrate may contain no tobacco, or even no nicotine, but instead may contain naturally or artificially derived ingredients for flavouring, volatilisation, improving smoothness, and/or providing other pleasurable effects. The aerosol substrate may be provided as a solid or paste type material in shredded, pelletised, powdered, granulated, strip or sheet form, optionally a combination of these. Some examples may include both solid and liquid/gel parts.

The aerosol generation device could equally be referred to as a "heated tobacco device", a "heat-not-burn tobacco device", a "device for vaporising tobacco products", and the like, with this being interpreted as a device suitable for achieving these effects. The features disclosed herein are equally applicable to devices which are designed to vaporise any aerosol substrate.

The consumable may be a pre-packaged substrate carrier. The substrate carrier may broadly resemble a cigarette, having a tubular region with an aerosol substrate arranged in a suitable manner. Filters, vapour collection regions, cooling regions, and other structure may also be included in some designs. An outer layer of paper or other flexible planar material such as foil may also be provided, for example to hold the aerosol substrate in place, to further the resemblance of a cigarette, etc. The substrate carrier may fit within the heating chamber or may be longer than the heating chamber. In such embodiments, the aerosol may be provided directly from the substrate carrier which acts as a mouthpiece for the aerosol generation device.

As used herein, the term "volatile" means a substance capable of readily changing from the solid or liquid state to the gaseous state. As a non-limiting example, a volatile substance may be one which has a boiling or sublimation temperature close to room temperature at ambient pressure. Accordingly "volatilize" or "volatilise" shall be construed as meaning to render (a material) volatile and/or to cause to evaporate or disperse in vapour.

As used herein, the term "vapour" (or "vapor") means: (i) the form into which liquids are naturally converted by the action of a sufficient degree of heat; or (ii) particles of liquid/moisture that are suspended in the atmosphere and visible as clouds of steam/smoke; or (iii) a fluid that fills a space like a gas but, being below its critical temperature, can be liquefied by pressure alone.

Consistently with this definition the term "vaporise" (or "vaporize") means: (i) to change, or cause the change into vapour; and (ii) where the particles change physical state (i.e. from liquid or solid into the gaseous state).

As used herein, the term "atomise" (or "atomize") shall mean: (i) to turn (a substance, especially a liquid) into very small particles or droplets; and (ii) where the particles remain in the same physical state (liquid or solid) as they were prior to atomization.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generation device (<NUM>) for heating a consumable (<NUM>) comprising a columnar portion of aerosol substrate (<NUM>), the device comprising:
a body (<NUM>) comprising a heating chamber for heating the columnar portion, the heating chamber comprising a first side wall (<NUM>), a first end wall (<NUM>) and a penetrative heater (<NUM>) protruding from the first end wall into the heating chamber wherein the penetrative heater (<NUM>) is arranged such that, when a consumable (<NUM>) is inserted into the heating chamber, the penetrative heater (<NUM>) penetrates into the columnar portion of aerosol substrate (<NUM>);
an inner chamber (<NUM>) adapted to be removably inserted into the heating chamber and adapted to receive the consumable, the inner chamber (<NUM>) comprising a second side wall (<NUM>) and a second end wall (<NUM>) connected to the second side wall (<NUM>);
wherein the second end wall (<NUM>) comprises an aperture (<NUM>) adapted to fit around the penetrative heater (<NUM>); and
a cap (<NUM>) adapted to hold the inner chamber (<NUM>) in the heating chamber,
wherein the second end wall (<NUM>) and the second side wall (<NUM>) are adapted to spread heat from the penetrative heater (<NUM>).