Patent Description:
Recently, the demand for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of traditional cigarettes has increased. For example, research has been actively performed on technology for generating aerosols by delivering heat to an aerosol generating substrate that is physically separated from a combustible heat source.

However, it takes time until the combustible heat source is ignited and delivers the heat to the aerosol generating substrate.

<CIT> relates to an aerosol generation smoking article comprising a heating unit, a catalytic unit in gas flow communication with the heating unit, an alkali source means, in the form of a cylindrical body of paper loaded with ammomium carbonate, an aerosol generation means in the form of an aerosol element, comprising a cylindrical body of cut tobacco as a nicotine source means wrapped in an impervious wrapper and an annular layer of particulate substrate material loaded with propylene glycol and glycerol, a mixing space at the rearward end of the aerosol element and a velocity accelerating orifice located intermediate the mixing space and a distribution space. A mouthpiece element of porous cellulose acetate is provided at the mouth end of the smoking article adjacent the distribution space.

An aerosol generating article according to embodiments may overcome technical shortcomings of the related art.

However, technical problems are not limited thereto, and other technical problems may be derived from the following examples.

A first aspect of the present disclosure may provide an aerosol generating article, including: a first portion including a composite heat source, a second portion adjacent to the first portion and including at least one of an aerosol generating material and a tobacco material; a third portion including a cooling material; and a fourth portion including a filter material, wherein the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion are sequentially arranged with reference to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article, and the composite heat source includes a combustible heat source and a combustible wick inserted into the combustible heat source.

According to embodiments, heat generated by a composite heat source may be efficiently transferred to an aerosol generating substrate.

Effects of the disclosure are not limited thereto, and may include all effects that may be derived from the following configurations.

A first aspect of the disclosure may provide an aerosol generating article, including: a first portion including a composite heat source; a second portion adjacent to the first portion and including at least one of an aerosol generating material and a tobacco material; a third portion including a cooling material; and a fourth portion including a filter material, wherein the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion are sequentially arranged along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article, and the composite heat source includes a combustible heat source, and a combustible wick inserted into the combustible heat source.

In an embodiment, the combustible wick may include a combustible body soaked with alcohol, a solid fuel, or a metal wire.

In an embodiment, when the first portion is combusted, a combustion rate of the combustible wick may be greater than a combustion rate of the combustible heat source.

In an embodiment, when the first portion is combusted, the combustible wick may be removed, and an air flow passage may be formed in the combustible heat source.

In an embodiment, the aerosol generating article may further include a first wrapper surrounding the first portion and the second portion.

In an embodiment, the combustible wick is coaxially arranged in a central portion of the combustible heat source, and the combustible wick may have a uniform diameter in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article.

In an embodiment, the combustible wick includes a first region and a second region, the first region and the second region being physically connected to each other, and the first region may have a uniform diameter in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article, and the second region may have a diameter increasing in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article.

In an embodiment, the combustible wick may include magnesium ribbon.

A second aspect of the disclosure may provide an aerosol generating system, in which an aerosol is generated by ignition of the first portion of the aerosol generating article according to the first aspect.

In an embodiment, a combustion rate of the combustible wick may be greater than a combustion rate of the combustible heat source.

In an embodiment, the combustible wick may be removed, and an air flow passage may be formed in the combustible heat source.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a configuration of an aerosol generating article <NUM> according to embodiments.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided the aerosol generating article <NUM> including a first portion <NUM> that includes a composite heat source, a second portion <NUM> that is adjacent to the first portion <NUM> and includes at least one of an aerosol generating material and a tobacco material, a third portion <NUM> including a cooling material, and a fourth portion <NUM> including a filter material. Also, in some embodiments, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may further include a first wrapper <NUM> and a second wrapper <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the first portion <NUM>, the second portion <NUM>, the third portion <NUM>, and the fourth portion <NUM> are sequentially arranged along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Heat generated from the composite heat source arranged in the first portion <NUM> is delivered to the portion <NUM>. Aerosol generated from the second portion <NUM> due to the heat is delivered to a user through the third portion <NUM> and the fourth portion <NUM>.

The first portion <NUM> includes the composite heat source. As it will be described detail in <FIG> and <FIG>, the composite heat source according to embodiments may include a combustible heat source and a combustible wick. The combustible heat source may include a heat source including carbon. The combustible wick may include a combustible body soaked with alcohol, a solid fuel, or a metal wire. The composite heat source may be included in the aerosol generating article, and as the heat generated due to the composite heat source is delivered to an aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article, aerosol is generated.

The second portion <NUM> may be adjacent to the first portion <NUM>. For example, the first portion <NUM> may be at an upstream of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, and compared to the first portion <NUM>, the second portion <NUM> may be at a downstream of the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

Here, regarding the terms "upstream" and "downstream", when a user puffs air by using the aerosol generating article, a portion into which the air flows from the outside of the aerosol generating article is "upstream", and a portion from which the air flows to the outside of the aerosol generating article is "downstream". The terms "upstream" and "downstream" are used to indicate relative positions or directions of portions or segments included in the aerosol generating article.

The second portion <NUM> may include at least one of the aerosol generating material and the tobacco material. The tobacco material may include, for example, at least one of shredded pipe tobacco, reconstituted pipe tobacco leaves, tobacco leaves, expanded tobacco, and nicotine extract. The tobacco material may include nicotine.

For example, the second portion <NUM> may include the reconstituted pipe tobacco leaves soaked with glycerin. When the composite heat source of the first portion <NUM> is ignited, the heat generated from the first portion <NUM> may be delivered to the second portion <NUM>, and the aerosol may be generated from the reconstituted pipe tobacco leaves soaked with glycerin. However, the invention is not necessarily limited to the descriptions.

The third portion <NUM> may include the cooling material, which cools an air flow that passes through the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>. The third portion <NUM> may include a polymer material or a biodegradable polymer material, configured to cool the aerosol. For example, the third portion <NUM> may include pure polylactic acid alone, but the material for forming the cooling segment is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the third portion <NUM> may include a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the third portion <NUM> is not limited to the above-described example and is not limited as long as the cooling segment cools the aerosol. For example, the third portion <NUM> may include a tube filter or a base paper filter that includes a hollow.

The fourth portion <NUM> may include a cellulose acetate filter. Shapes of the fourth portion <NUM> are not limited. For example, the fourth portion <NUM> may include a cylinder-type rod or a tube-type rod having a hollow inside. Also, the fourth portion <NUM> may include a recess-type rod. When the fourth portion <NUM> includes a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may have a different shape.

The fourth portion <NUM> may be formed to generate flavors. For example, a flavoring liquid may be injected onto the fourth portion <NUM>, or an additional fiber coated with a flavoring liquid may be inserted into the fourth portion <NUM>.

In embodiments, the first portion <NUM> may have a length from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, and the second portion <NUM> may have a length from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. However, the invention is not necessarily limited to the descriptions.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may further include at least one of the first wrapper <NUM> and the second wrapper <NUM>.

The first wrapper <NUM> may surround the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>. The first wrapper <NUM> may include, for example, a heat-conductive wrapper. Desirably, the first wrapper <NUM> may include an aluminum thin film. When the first portion <NUM> is ignited and combusted, the heat generated from the first portion <NUM> may be directly delivered to the second portion <NUM>, and the heat generated from the first portion <NUM> may also be delivered to the second portion <NUM> through the first wrapper <NUM>. The first wrapper <NUM> may have, for example, a heat conductivity from about <NUM> W·m-<NUM>/K-<NUM> to about <NUM> W·m-<NUM>/K-<NUM>.

The second wrapper <NUM> may surround the first portion <NUM>, the second portion <NUM>, the third portion <NUM>, and the fourth portion <NUM>. The second wrapper <NUM> may include, for example, a sheet of cellulose paper. However, the invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may further include a barrier (not shown) arranged between the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>. The barrier may reduce transfer of harmful gas, which is generated from the first portion <NUM>, to the second portion <NUM>, the third portion <NUM>, or the fourth portion <NUM>. The barrier may include, for example, a metal material. Accordingly, the user may puff required components alone in the form of aerosol.

<FIG> is a diagram of a configuration of a composite heat source <NUM> according to an embodiment.

In embodiments, the composite heat source <NUM> may have a cylinder shape. However, the shape of the composite heat source <NUM> is not necessarily limited to the descriptions, and the disclosure may include all of well-known shapes in the field.

The composite heat source <NUM> may include a combustible heat source <NUM> and a combustible wick <NUM>.

The combustible heat source <NUM> may include, for example, a heat source including carbon.

The combustible wick <NUM> may include a combustible body soaked with alcohol, a solid fuel, or a metal wire. The combustible body soaked with alcohol may include, for example, yarn, thread, paper, woodstick, or the like soaked with ethanol. The solid fuel may include, for example, an ignition support material such as solid methyl alcohol. The metal wire may include, for example, a magnesium ribbon. The combustible wick <NUM> may have a combustion rate that is greater than that of the combustible heat source <NUM>. The combustible wick <NUM> may support ignition or combustion of the combustible heat source <NUM>. The combustible wick <NUM> may be removed during combustion.

The combustible wick <NUM> may be inserted into a center portion of the combustible heat source <NUM>. To allow the combustible wick <NUM> to be inserted into the center portion of the combustible heat source <NUM>, a passage extending in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article may be formed in the center portion of the combustible heat source <NUM>. The combustible wick <NUM> may be coaxially arranged in the center portion of the combustible heat source <NUM>.

The combustible wick <NUM> may have a diameter d1. For example, the diameter d1 of the combustible wick <NUM> may be from about <NUM>/<NUM> to about <NUM>/<NUM> of the diameter of the composite heat source <NUM>. By adjusting the diameter d1 of the combustible wick <NUM>, a weight of the solid fuel or the metal wire included in the composite heat source may be adjusted.

Referring to <FIG>, the combustible wick <NUM> may have the diameter d1, which is uniform, in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article or a longitudinal direction of the composite heat source <NUM>. As it will be described later, when the composite heat source <NUM> is combusted, the combustible wick <NUM> is combusted and removed, and therefore, after a certain time period, an air flow passage may be formed in a center portion of the composite heat source <NUM>. When external air is introduced through the air flow passage, combustion of the combustible heat source <NUM> may be further promoted.

<FIG> is a diagram of a configuration of a composite heat source <NUM> according to another embodiment.

The descriptions of <FIG> and <FIG> may be equally applied to <FIG>. However, unlike in <FIG>, the composite heat source <NUM> in <FIG> may include a first region S1 and a second region S2 according to a diameter of the combustible wick <NUM>.

The composite heat source <NUM> may include a combustible heat source <NUM> and the combustible wick <NUM>. The combustible wick <NUM> may be inserted into a center portion of the combustible heat source <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the composite heat source <NUM> may be divided into the first region S1 and the second region S2. The first region S1 and the second region S2 may be physically connected to each other.

The first region S1 may have a diameter d2, which is uniform, in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article. On the contrary, the second region S2 may have a diameter d3 increasing in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article. Accordingly, the diameter d3 may be equal to or greater than the diameter d2.

As the diameter d3 of the second region S2 is equal to or greater than the diameter d2, the composite heat source <NUM> according to the embodiment in <FIG> may include a greater number of combustible wicks <NUM> compared to the composite heat source <NUM> according to the embodiment in <FIG>. Accordingly, combustion of the composite heat source <NUM> according to the embodiment in <FIG> may be promoted.

When the composite heat source <NUM> is ignited and combusted, a combustion rate of the combustible wick <NUM> may be greater than a combustion rate of the combustible heat source <NUM>. The combustible wick <NUM> may be ignited, combusted, and removed. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the combustible wick <NUM> may be removed, and an air flow passage may be formed in the center portion of the combustible heat source <NUM>. Accordingly, the air flow passage may broaden from the first region S1 to the second region S2. Accordingly, air may be more easily introduced from the outside of the aerosol generating article to the inside thereof. A surface area of the combustible heat source <NUM> contacting the external air further increases, and thus, combustion of the combustible heat source <NUM> may be further promoted.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a state in which a combustible heat source is ignited and starts combustion.

Referring to <FIG>, it may be seen that, when the combustible heat source that does not include a combustible wick is ignited, an end portion of the combustible heat source is mainly combusted. In this case, as only a local portion of the combustible heat source is combusted, heat may not be efficiently delivered to other portions of the aerosol generating article. An air flow passage is also not formed during combustion.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a state in which a composite heat source <NUM> according to an embodiment is ignited and starts combustion.

For example, the composite heat source <NUM> in <FIG> may be the composite heat source <NUM> in <FIG>.

The composite heat source <NUM> may include a combustible heat source <NUM> and a combustible wick <NUM>. After the composite heat source <NUM> is ignited and combusted to a certain degree, the combustible heat source <NUM> and the combustible wick <NUM> may be partially or entirely combusted and removed. As a combustion rate of the combustible wick <NUM> is greater than a combustion rate of the combustible heat source <NUM>, it may be seen that a combustion portion in a center portion of the combustible heat source <NUM> is formed in a greater depth compared to other portions.

In detail, the composite heat source <NUM> may be divided into a region <NUM> in which a combustible heat source is combusted, a region <NUM> in which the combustible heat source is not combusted, a region <NUM> in which the combustible heat source is overheated, a region <NUM> in which the combustible wick is combusted, and a region <NUM> in which the combustible wick is not combusted.

As the external air is introduced into the region <NUM> in which the combustible wick is combusted, a surface area of the combustible heat source <NUM> contacting the external air increases, and accordingly, combustion of the combustible heat source <NUM> may be promoted.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a state in which a composite heat source <NUM> according to an embodiment is combusted to a certain degree.

However, when the composite heat source <NUM> is combusted to a certain degree, the combustible wick may be completely combusted, and an air flow passage <NUM> may be formed. Accordingly, the composite heat source <NUM> may include a combustible heat source <NUM> and the air flow passage <NUM>.

In the embodiment, as the air flow passage <NUM> is formed, a surface area of the combustible heat source <NUM> contacting the external air increases, and thus, combustion of the combustible heat source <NUM> may be promoted. When a user puffs aerosol through a fourth portion (not shown), the external air may be more easily introduced into the aerosol generating article.

A second aspect of the invention may provide an aerosol generating system, in which a first portion of the aerosol generating article according to the first aspect is ignited and aerosol is generated.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating article (<NUM>) comprising:
a first portion (<NUM>) comprising a composite heat source (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a second portion (<NUM>) adjacent to the first portion (<NUM>) and comprising at least one of an aerosol generating material and a tobacco material;
a third portion (<NUM>) comprising a cooling material; and
a fourth portion (<NUM>) comprising a filter material,
wherein the first portion (<NUM>), the second portion (<NUM>), the third portion (<NUM>), and the fourth portion (<NUM>) are sequentially arranged along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article (<NUM>), characterized in that
the composite heat source (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a combustible heat source (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a combustible wick (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) inserted into the combustible heat source (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).