JP2025540525A - Cartridge with ventilation channels - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cartridge for an aerosol generating device comprising: a liquid storage portion containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and an atomization unit in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion; an airflow path in fluid communication with the atomization unit, the airflow path extending through the cartridge; a longitudinal axis, the airflow path extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis; and at least one ventilation channel configured to allow air to flow into the liquid storage portion, the at least one ventilation channel extending partially along the longitudinal axis.
[Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a cartridge for an aerosol generating device, comprising an atomization unit and a liquid storage portion having a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The present disclosure further relates to an aerosol generating system comprising the cartridge and an aerosol generating device.

It is known to provide cartridges containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate for generating an inhalable vapor. Such systems may heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature at which the substrate volatilizes without burning the aerosol-forming substrate. In an aerosol generation system, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be delivered from a liquid storage portion to an atomization unit. Upon heating to a target temperature, the aerosol-generating substrate vaporizes to form an aerosol. The liquid storage portion may be formed as a replaceable or refillable cartridge containing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The cartridge may be attached to an aerosol generation device to supply the device with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate for aerosol generation. The supply of new liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the atomization unit may be interrupted, which could result in the atomization unit burning out, heating up with no aerosol-forming substrate at all, or with an insufficient amount of aerosol-forming substrate. This could result in a poor user experience. Burning out could result in the production of toxic substances. It may be necessary to replace used liquid aerosol-forming substrates with air from the liquid storage portion. If the used liquid aerosol-forming substrate cannot be sufficiently replaced with air, a reduced pressure may occur in the liquid reservoir compared to the rest of the cartridge, which may disrupt the flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

It would be desirable to provide a cartridge that reduces or avoids dry burning of the nebulization unit. It would be desirable to provide a cartridge that may allow the used liquid aerosol-forming substrate to be easily replaced with air.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a cartridge for an aerosol generating device is provided. The cartridge may include a liquid storage portion containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The cartridge may include an atomization unit in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion. An airflow path in fluid communication with the atomization unit may extend through the cartridge. The cartridge may have a longitudinal axis, and the airflow path may extend at least partially along the longitudinal axis. At least one ventilation channel may be provided within the cartridge. The at least one ventilation channel may be configured to allow air to flow into the liquid storage portion. The at least one ventilation channel may extend partially along the longitudinal axis.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a cartridge for an aerosol generating device is provided. The cartridge includes a liquid storage portion containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The cartridge further includes an atomization unit in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion. An airflow path in fluid communication with the atomization unit is present within the cartridge, the airflow path extending through the cartridge. The cartridge further includes a longitudinal axis, the airflow path extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis. At least one vent channel is present within the cartridge. The vent channel is configured to allow air to flow into the liquid storage portion. The at least one vent channel extends partially along the longitudinal axis.

The at least one ventilation channel may ensure a reliable supply of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the atomization unit. The at least one ventilation channel may allow air to easily flow into the liquid storage portion to replace consumed liquid aerosol-forming substrate. This may reduce or avoid a drop in pressure in the liquid storage portion of the cartridge compared to other portions of the cartridge. Because the at least one ventilation channel extends partially along the longitudinal axis and partially along the airflow path, air is easily allowed to flow into the liquid storage portion through the at least one ventilation channel. The at least one ventilation channel may reduce or avoid "dry burning" of the atomization unit.

As used herein, the term "extending along the longitudinal axis" refers to embodiments in which at least one ventilation channel extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. The term also refers to embodiments in which at least one ventilation channel extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis, for example, by meandering along the longitudinal axis.

The airflow path extending through the cartridge may include an air inlet port that allows air to enter the cartridge from outside the cartridge. Additionally, the airflow path may include an air outlet port through which air, or an aerosol formed from air and the aerosol-forming substrate, may be expelled from the cartridge.

The at least one ventilation channel may include an air inlet port that allows air to flow from outside the cartridge into the cartridge and the liquid storage portion. The at least one ventilation channel may not include an air outlet port, as the ventilation channel is configured to supply air to the liquid storage portion in place of consumed liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

An atomization unit may be provided to atomize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate for the aerosol, which can then be inhaled by a user. The atomization unit may be configured as any device capable of atomizing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. For example, the atomization unit may comprise a nebulizer or atomizer nozzle based on the Venturi effect to atomize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Alternatively, the atomization unit may comprise a heating element, in which case the atomization unit may be configured to vaporize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Preferably, the atomization unit comprises a heating element, as described in more detail below.

At least one ventilation channel may include a first channel portion and a second channel portion. The first channel portion may extend along the longitudinal axis. The second channel portion may extend transversely to the longitudinal axis.

The second channel portion may be configured to connect the first channel portion of the at least one ventilation channel to a portion of the airflow path extending through the cartridge. This may allow air to flow through the airflow path and into the at least one ventilation channel. This may allow air to flow through the airflow path and into the at least one ventilation channel when a user stops inhaling from the aerosol generating device. This may allow air to flow through the airflow path and into the cartridge, preferably through the second channel portion and into the at least one ventilation channel.

The first channel portion may be in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion. The first channel portion may be in fluid communication with a second channel portion of the at least one ventilation channel. Air may enter the at least one ventilation channel through the second channel portion and travel further through the liquid storage portion through the first channel portion.

The cross-sectional area of the second channel portion may be different from the cross-sectional area of the first channel portion. Specifically, the cross-sectional area of the second channel portion may be larger than the cross-sectional area of the first channel portion.

This may reduce or minimize capillary forces that may draw liquid into the second channel portion of the vent channel, which may reduce leakage from the vent channel.

The cross-sectional area of the at least one ventilation channel may have any shape. For example, it may be rectangular, polygonal, circular, or elliptical. Preferably, the cross-sectional area is elliptical or circular, and more preferably circular.

The cartridge may further include at least one liquid communication channel. The liquid communication channel may provide fluid communication between the liquid storage portion and the atomization unit.

At least one liquid communication channel can allow liquid to move from the liquid storage portion to the atomization unit by capillary forces. The atomization unit can absorb the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and further evaporate the substrate for aerosol formation.

The cross-sectional area of the at least one liquid communication channel may be larger than the cross-sectional area of the at least one vent channel. Specifically, the cross-sectional area of the at least one liquid communication channel may be larger than the cross-sectional area of one or both of the first channel portion and the second channel portion of the at least one vent channel.

The at least one ventilation channel can be configured to allow air to flow into the liquid storage portion, and the air flow can be ensured by the ventilation channel having a smaller cross-sectional area than the at least one liquid communication channel through which the liquid aerosol-forming substrate moves.

The at least one liquid communication channel and the at least one vent channel may have a tubular shape. This may result in a circular cross-sectional area for both the liquid communication channel and the at least one vent channel. The diameter of the at least one liquid communication channel may be greater than 1 millimeter. The diameter of the at least one liquid communication channel may be up to 5 millimeters. The diameter of the at least one vent channel may be between 0.01 millimeters and 0.5 millimeters.

In the cartridge, the liquid storage portion may be located adjacent to the atomization unit. At least one ventilation channel may extend along the atomization unit to the liquid storage portion.

This allows air to easily move along the atomization unit to the liquid storage area.

The cartridge may further include a mounting frame. The mounting frame may be configured to mount the atomization unit to the cartridge. The mounting frame may at least partially surround the atomization unit.

At least one ventilation channel may be formed at least partially between the mounting frame and the surface area of the atomization unit.

This makes it easy to form at least one ventilation channel.

The mounting frame may include at least one groove. At least one ventilation channel may be formed at least partially between the groove and the surface area of the atomization unit.

This may allow at least one ventilation channel to be directed along the atomization unit to the liquid storage portion.

The mounting frame may include a sidewall. At least one ventilation channel may be partially formed within the sidewall.

This allows ventilation channels to be formed within the sidewall without contacting adjacent atomization units.

At least one vent channel may meander within a sidewall extending along the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, potentially allowing the vent channel to form a serpentine vent channel extending from the liquid reservoir to the airflow path of the cartridge.

This potentially allows for greater liquid storage capacity, which can act to minimize the amount of liquid in the vent channel that reaches the cartridge's airflow path.

The first channel portion may be a portion of at least one ventilation channel formed in the side wall of the mounting frame, or a portion of at least one ventilation channel formed between the mounting frame and the surface of the atomization unit.

This may allow the ventilation channel to be easily fluidly connected to a liquid storage portion that runs along or is located near the atomization unit.

The atomization unit may include a heating element and a porous body. The porous body may be made of a ceramic material. The porous body may be configured to absorb the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

The heating element may be disposed on the heating surface of the porous body. The heating element may be formed as a heating track configured to heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The heating element of the atomization unit may be in electrical contact with the contacts of the electric heating element. The contacts of the electric heating element may also be disposed on the heating surface of the porous body.

The heated surface of the atomization unit can receive the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion of the cartridge. The heated surface of the atomization unit can heat and vaporize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate for aerosol formation.

The porous body of the atomization unit may further include an absorption surface. The absorption surface of the porous body may be in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion and may receive the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may further be transferred from the absorption surface of the porous body to the heating surface.

The mounting frame may be positioned over a portion of the heating surface of the porous body. A portion of at least one ventilation channel may be formed between the mounting frame and the heating surface of the porous body. The portion of the ventilation channel formed between the mounting frame and the heating surface may be a second channel portion.

This may allow air from the outside to flow into the liquid storage portion through the second channel portion and then through the first channel portion of the at least one ventilation channel.

This may allow any liquid aerosol-forming substrate leaking from the liquid storage portion through at least one ventilation channel to evaporate on the heated surface of the porous body. Specifically, liquid aerosol-forming substrate leaking from the liquid storage portion may be transferred from the storage portion through the first channel portion to the second channel portion, and then may evaporate.

The mounting frame may surround a cross-sectional portion of the porous body. The cross-sectional portion may extend transversely to the heating surface. A portion of at least one ventilation channel may be formed between the mounting frame and the cross-sectional portion of the porous body. The portion of the at least one ventilation channel formed between the mounting frame and the cross-sectional portion may be a first channel portion.

Accordingly, the first channel portion and the second channel portion of at least one ventilation channel may be formed on adjacent surfaces of the porous body of the atomization unit.

This may facilitate the design of a ventilation channel that extends along the atomization unit to the liquid storage portion. This may also allow the cross-sectional portion of the porous body to absorb liquid aerosol-forming substrate that leaks from the liquid storage portion, if the first channel portion is formed between the cross-sectional portion and the mounting frame.

The mounting frame may include at least one liquid opening for providing a liquid communication channel between the liquid storage portion and the atomization unit. The liquid storage portion is preferably located adjacent to the atomization unit.

This allows the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to be easily transferred from the storage section to the atomization unit. The liquid storage section is preferably adjacent to the porous body of the atomization unit. In this case, the absorption surface of the porous body adjacent to the liquid storage section absorbs the liquid aerosol-forming substrate into the porous body and then transfers it to its heating surface.

The cartridge may further include an upstream air inlet. The upstream air inlet may be configured to direct air along the airflow path above the nebulization unit.

The airflow path extending through the cartridge may be separated from at least one ventilation channel. As already mentioned above, the at least one ventilation channel may receive air passing through the airflow path within the cartridge when the user stops inhaling on the aerosol generating device.

The liquid storage portion may comprise a retention material. The retention material may be configured to absorb and retain the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

The retention material may comprise a sponge-like or foam-like material capable of storing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The structure of the retention material may form a plurality of small holes or channels through which the liquid substrate can migrate and be stored by capillary action. Examples of suitable materials are sponge or foam materials, ceramic or graphite-based materials in the form of fibers or sintered powders, foamed metal or plastic materials, fibrous materials such as spun or extruded fibers, fibrous materials made of cellulose acetate, polyester, or bonded polyolefin, polyethylene, ethylene, or polypropylene fibers, nylon fibers, or ceramics.

Users may periodically turn the device upside down after use, which may cause any air bubbles that form in the liquid reservoir to escape from the cartridge through at least one vent channel.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an aerosol generation system is provided. The aerosol generation system may include a cartridge as described herein. The aerosol generation system may include an aerosol generator. The aerosol generator may include a power supply and a controller. The power supply may be configured to provide power to an atomization unit of the cartridge. The controller may be configured to control operation of the atomization unit.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an aerosol generation system is provided. The aerosol generation system includes a cartridge as described herein and an aerosol generation device. The aerosol generation device includes a power supply and a controller. The power supply is configured to provide power to the atomization unit of the cartridge. The controller is configured to control operation of the atomization unit.

Such an aerosol generation system may be configured to generate an aerosol from a liquid aerosol-forming substrate contained within a cartridge. An aerosol generator of the aerosol generation system may be coupled to the cartridge and may control operation of the atomization unit of the cartridge. The power source of the aerosol generator may also provide power to the atomization unit, particularly its heating element.

The cartridge may be configured to be removably connectable to the aerosol generating device.

This allows the cartridge to be replaced if the aerosol-forming substrate in the liquid reservoir becomes depleted.

The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may include an aerosol former. Suitable aerosol formers include, but are not limited to, polyhydric alcohols (such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and glycerin), esters of polyhydric alcohols (such as glycerol monoacetate, diacetate, or triacetate), and aliphatic esters of monocarboxylic, dicarboxylic, or polycarboxylic acids (such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate). The aerosol former may also be a polyhydric alcohol or a mixture thereof (such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and glycerin). The aerosol former may also be propylene glycol. Preferably, the aerosol former includes both glycerin and propylene glycol.

The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may comprise 70 to 100 percent by weight of the aerosol former, preferably up to 95 percent by weight of the aerosol former. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may further comprise 30 to 5 percent by weight of an additional compound selected from the group consisting of flavorants, nicotine, and water.

The ceramic body of the atomization unit may include or be made of one or _both of _Ca2SiO4 and _SiO2 .

The cartridge may include multiple ventilation channels; for example, the cartridge may include at least two ventilation channels, preferably at least three ventilation channels, and more preferably at least five ventilation channels. The cartridge may include up to six ventilation channels.

The heating element may comprise an electrically resistive material. Suitable electrically resistive materials include, but are not limited to, semiconductors such as doped ceramics, "conductive" ceramics (e.g., molybdenum disilicide), carbon, graphite, metals, alloys, and composites made of ceramic and metallic materials. Such composites may include doped or undoped ceramics. An example of a suitable doped ceramic is doped silicon carbide. Examples of suitable metals include titanium, zirconium, tantalum platinum, gold, and silver. Examples of suitable metal alloys include stainless steel, nickel-containing, cobalt-containing, chromium-containing, aluminum-containing, titanium-containing, zirconium-containing, hafnium-containing, niobium-containing, molybdenum-containing, tantalum-containing, tungsten-containing, tin-containing, gallium-containing, manganese-containing, gold-containing, and iron-containing alloys, as well as nickel-, iron-, cobalt-, and stainless steel-based superalloys, Timetal®, and iron-manganese-aluminum-based alloys. The heating element may preferably include or be made of a nickel-chromium alloy (NiCr). The heating element may also be made of an alloy of titanium or stainless steel, or may be made of pure nickel, stainless steel, or titanium.

The electrical contacts may include or be made of a conductive metal or alloy, such as one or more of Cu, Ag, Zn, or Au.

The heating element may include a susceptor heating element for heating the aerosol-generating substrate by induction. The susceptor may be part of the aerosol-generating device, as described above, or may be part of the aerosol-generating article. The susceptor may be formed from any material that can be inductively heated to a temperature sufficient to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate. A preferred susceptor may include or consist of a ferromagnetic material (e.g., a ferromagnetic alloy, ferritic iron, or ferromagnetic steel or stainless steel). A suitable susceptor may be or include aluminum.

The preferred susceptor is a metal susceptor (e.g., stainless steel). However, the susceptor material may also include or be made of any one of graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, aluminum, niobium, Inconel alloy (an austenitic nickel-chromium superalloy), metal-deposited films, ceramics (e.g., zirconia, etc.), transition metals (e.g., iron, cobalt, nickel, etc.), or semi-metallic components (e.g., boron, carbon, silicon, phosphorus, aluminum, etc.), or combinations or alloys of materials.

The susceptor may be heated by an induction coil. The induction coil may provide an alternating magnetic field. The induction coil may be part of the aerosol generator or may be contained within the cartridge. When placed in an alternating electromagnetic field, eddy currents are typically induced in the susceptor, and hysteresis losses occur, causing the susceptor to heat up.

The heating element is preferably a resistive heating element as described above.

The mounting frame may include or be made of a silicone polymer. The mounting frame may include a heat-resistant polymer material, such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

The aerosol generating device of the aerosol generating system may comprise an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor may be part of the controller. The electrical circuit may comprise further electronic components. The electrical circuit may be configured to regulate the supply of power to the heating element. Power may be supplied to the heating element continuously following activation of the aerosol generating device, or may be supplied intermittently, such as with each puff. Power may be supplied to the heating element in the form of current pulses. The electrical circuit may be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the heating element and may be configured to control the supply of power to the heating element, preferably in response to the electrical resistance of the heating element.

The aerosol generating device of the aerosol generating system may include a power source (typically a battery) within the main body of the aerosol generating device. In one embodiment, the power source is a lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, the power source may be a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a lithium-based battery (e.g., a lithium-cobalt battery, a lithium iron phosphate battery, a lithium titanate battery, or a lithium polymer battery). Alternatively, the power source may be another form of charge storage device, such as a capacitor. The power source may, for example, provide power to an induction coil provided within the aerosol-generating article. Alternatively, the power source may provide power via an electrical connection to a resistive heating element provided within the cartridge.

As used herein, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are used to describe the relative locations of components or portions of components of an aerosol generating device with respect to the direction in which air flows through the aerosol generating device along an airflow path during use of the aerosol generating device. An aerosol generating device according to the present invention comprises a proximal end through which aerosol exits the device during use. The proximal end of the aerosol generating device may also be referred to as the oral end or downstream end. The oral end is downstream of the distal end. The oral end may comprise a mouthpiece. The distal end of the aerosol generating device may also be referred to as the upstream end. Components or portions of components of an aerosol generating device may be described as being upstream or downstream of each other based on their relative locations with respect to the airflow path through the aerosol generating device.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a cartridge with a vent channel. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a cartridge with a vent channel. FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of the atomization unit in the mounting frame. FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the atomization unit in the mounting frame as seen from the side of the liquid reservoir. FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a cartridge in which a first channel portion of the vent channel snakes through the mounting frame. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a cartridge in which the first channel portion is serpentine relative to the mounting frame. FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge showing the airflow path through the cartridge. FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation system including a cartridge and an aerosol generating device.

The following provides a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

Example 1.
1. A cartridge for an aerosol generating device, comprising:
a liquid storage portion including a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and an atomization unit in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion;
an airflow path in fluid communication with the atomization unit, the airflow path extending through the cartridge;
a longitudinal axis, the airflow path extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis;
A cartridge comprising: at least one vent channel configured to allow air to enter the liquid storage portion, the at least one vent channel extending partially along the longitudinal axis.
Example 2.
A cartridge as described in Example 1, wherein at least one vent channel comprises a first channel portion and a second channel portion, the first channel portion extending along the longitudinal axis and the second channel portion extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, and preferably the cross-sectional area of the second channel portion being larger than the cross-sectional area of the first channel portion.
Example 3.
The cartridge of any one of Examples 1 to 2, further comprising at least one liquid communication channel for fluid communication between the liquid storage portion and the atomization unit.
Example 4.
A cartridge as described in Example 3, wherein the cross-sectional area of at least one liquid communication channel is larger than the cross-sectional area of at least one ventilation channel, preferably the diameter of at least one liquid communication channel is larger than 1 millimeter and the diameter of at least one ventilation channel is 0.01 millimeter to 0.5 millimeter.
Example 5.
The cartridge of any one of Examples 1 to 4, wherein the liquid storage portion is disposed adjacent to the atomization unit, and the at least one ventilation channel extends along the atomization unit to the liquid storage portion.
Example 6.
The cartridge of any of Examples 1-5, further comprising a mounting frame, the mounting frame configured to mount the atomization unit within the cartridge, the mounting frame at least partially enclosing the atomization unit.
Example 7.
A cartridge as described in Example 6, wherein at least one ventilation channel is at least partially formed between the mounting frame and the surface area of the atomization unit, preferably the mounting frame has at least one groove, and at least one ventilation channel is at least partially formed between the groove and the surface area of the atomization unit.
Example 8.
A cartridge as described in Example 6, wherein the mounting frame has a side wall and at least one vent channel is at least partially formed within the side wall, preferably the at least one vent channel is serpentine within the side wall extending along the longitudinal axis, and more preferably, according to Example 2, a portion of the at least one vent channel formed within the side wall is the first channel portion.
Example 9.
9. The cartridge of any one of Examples 1 to 8, wherein the atomization unit comprises a heating element and a porous body, preferably the porous body is made of a ceramic material, more preferably the porous body is configured to absorb the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.
Example 10.
10. The cartridge of example 9, wherein a heating element is disposed on the heating surface of the porous body, preferably the heating element being formed as a heating track configured to heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.
Example 11.
The cartridge of Example 10, further according to any of Examples 6 or 7, wherein the mounting frame is disposed on a portion of the heated surface of the porous body, and preferably a portion of the at least one ventilation channel is formed between the mounting frame and the heated surface of the porous body; more preferably according to Example 2, wherein the portion of the at least one ventilation channel formed between the mounting frame and the heated surface of the porous body is the second channel portion.
Example 12.
A cartridge as described in Example 11, wherein the mounting frame surrounds a cross-sectional portion of the porous body extending transversely to the heating surface, and a portion of at least one ventilation channel is formed between the mounting frame and the cross-sectional portion of the porous body, more preferably according to Example 2, and wherein the portion of the at least one ventilation channel formed between the mounting frame and the cross-sectional portion of the porous body is the first channel portion.
Example 13.
A cartridge described in any one of Examples 6, 7, 11 or 12, wherein the mounting frame has at least one liquid opening for establishing a liquid communication channel between the liquid storage portion and the atomization unit, and preferably the liquid storage portion is positioned adjacent to the atomization unit.
Example 14.
The cartridge of any of Examples 1-13, further comprising an upstream air inlet configured to direct air along the airflow path and above the atomization unit.
Example 15.
15. The cartridge of any one of Examples 1 to 14, wherein the airflow path is separated from at least one vent channel.
Example 16.
16. The cartridge of any of Examples 1 to 15, wherein the liquid reservoir comprises a retaining material configured to absorb the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.
Example 17.
An aerosol generation system comprising a cartridge described in any one of Examples 1 to 16 and an aerosol generation device, wherein the aerosol generation device comprises a power supply and a controller, the power supply configured to supply power to the atomization unit, and the controller configured to control the operation of the atomization unit.
Example 18.
18. The aerosol generation system of any one of Examples 1 to 17, wherein the cartridge is configured to be removably connectable to an aerosol generation device.

Features described with respect to one embodiment may equally apply to other embodiments of the invention.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

In the following, elements with the same functionality will be designated with the same reference numerals throughout all figures.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a cartridge 10 according to the present invention. The cartridge 10 includes a liquid storage portion 12 and an atomization unit 20 adjacent to the liquid storage portion. The atomization unit 20 is in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion 12 through a liquid communication channel 12A. A liquid aerosol-forming substrate can travel through the liquid communication channel 12A and be absorbed by the porous body 14 of the atomization unit 20. A heating element 16 having electrical heating element contacts 18 is disposed on a heated surface 17 of the atomization unit 20. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate absorbed by the porous body 14 of the atomization unit can be evaporated on the heated surface 17 by heating from the heating element 16. When a user inhales on a cartridge connected to an aerosol-generating device (not shown in FIG. 1), the direction of airflow along the airflow path is as indicated by arrow 22 through the airflow tube 30. This airflow path extends along the longitudinal axis 24 of the cartridge. The atomization unit 20 is mounted on a mounting frame 28 that includes a liquid communication channel 12A for direct liquid communication between the liquid storage portion 12 and the porous body 14 of the atomization unit. At least one vent channel 26 is formed between the surface of the porous body of the atomization unit 20 and the mounting frame 28. The vent channel 26 includes a first channel portion 26A that extends along the longitudinal axis 24 of the cartridge and a second channel portion 26B that extends transversely, specifically perpendicularly, to the longitudinal axis 24. Air can pass through the second channel portion 26B and the first channel portion 26A to reach the liquid storage portion 12. This allows air to easily replace any used liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the liquid storage portion and avoids or reduces the buildup of any negative pressure in the liquid storage portion that may impede the flow of liquid aerosol-forming substrates toward the atomization unit. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may accidentally leak from the liquid storage portion 12 through the first channel portion 26A into the second channel portion 26B of the ventilation channel 26. The second channel portion 26B is positioned adjacent to the heated surface 17 of the atomization unit 20. This allows any accidentally leaked liquid aerosol-forming substrate to be evaporated by the heated surface of the atomization unit 20, thereby preventing droplets of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from being accidentally inhaled by the user.

Because air passes through the vent channel 26 while the liquid aerosol-forming substrate moves through the liquid communication channel 12A, the cross-sectional area of the vent channel 26 can be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the liquid communication channel 12A. Air movement requires a smaller cross-sectional area of the vent channel than the cross-sectional area of the liquid communication channel. This is shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 1, where the diameter 12B of the liquid communication channel 12A is larger than the diameter 26C of the first channel portion and the diameter 26D of the second channel portion of the vent channel.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the cartridge 10. In this embodiment, the ventilation channel 26 is formed in the mounting frame 28. Specifically, the ventilation channel 26 is formed between the first portion 28A and the second portion 28B of the mounting frame 28. The mounting frame 28 directly contacts the porous body 14 of the nebulization unit 20. When the user stops inhaling air from the cartridge, air can enter the liquid storage portion 12 in the direction indicated by arrow 23 in Figure 2. Specifically, the air passes through the downstream airflow portion, enters the second channel portion 26B of the ventilation channel 26, and is then directed through the first channel portion 26A into the liquid storage portion 12.

Figure 3 shows a top view of a cartridge according to the present invention. This top view shows the heating element 16 positioned on the heated surface of the porous body 14 of the atomization unit 20 and surrounded by a mounting frame 28 (the porous body 14 is not shown in Figure 3 because it is positioned below the heating element 16 and mounting frame 28). The mounting frame 28 includes openings to expose the electrical heating element contacts 18, allowing the electrical heating element contacts 18 to come into contact with an aerosol generating device when the cartridge is connected to the device.

Figure 4 shows a schematic bottom view of the cartridge 10 without the liquid storage portion 12. This view shows the bottom of the mounting frame 28, with a portion of the porous body 14 visible. This allows fluid communication between the liquid storage portion and the porous body 14 via the liquid communication channel 12A. The first channel portion 26A of the vent channel is positioned adjacent to the liquid communication channel 12A, allowing air to enter the liquid storage portion.

Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the cartridge 10. In this embodiment, the vent channel 26 snakes through the mounting frame 28 and is located between the first portion 28A and the second portion 28B of the mounting frame 28. This is an alternative design for the vent channel 26, allowing air to enter the liquid storage portion 12 and replace any used liquid aerosol-forming substrate with air.

Figure 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the cartridge 10. In this cartridge, the vent channel 26 is serpentine within the mounting frame 28. Specifically, the first channel portion 26A of the vent channel 26 is disposed within the mounting frame 28.

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 10, illustrating airflow through the cartridge, indicated by arrows 22. Air can enter the cartridge through an upstream air inlet 32 and is directed along the liquid reservoir 12, where it is further mixed with volatile compounds from the liquid aerosol-forming substrate that have evaporated on the heated surface 17 of the nebulization unit 20. The cartridge 10 includes a housing 38 and another electrical contact 34 on the cartridge configured to contact the aerosol-generating device. Electrical wiring 36 is present, providing an electrical connection between the cartridge electrical contact 34 and the heating element contact 18 on the heated surface of the nebulization unit.

Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation system including a cartridge 10 and an aerosol generation device 40. The device's electrical contacts 42 reside within the aerosol generation device 40, which can be electrically connected to the cartridge's electrical contacts 34. The aerosol generation device typically includes a power source, such as a battery, which can supply power to the device's electrical contacts 42, the cartridge's electrical contacts 34, and the heating element contacts 18 of the heating surface of the nebulization unit via electrical wiring 36.

Claims (18)

1. A cartridge for an aerosol generating device, comprising:
a liquid storage portion including a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and an atomization unit in fluid communication with the liquid storage portion;
an airflow path in fluid communication with the atomization unit, the airflow path extending through the cartridge;
a longitudinal axis, the airflow path extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis;
a cartridge comprising at least one ventilation channel configured to allow air to enter the liquid storage portion, the at least one ventilation channel extending partially along the longitudinal axis, and further comprising at least one liquid communication channel for fluid communication between the liquid storage portion and the atomization unit. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least one vent channel comprises a first channel portion and a second channel portion, the first channel portion extending along the longitudinal axis and the second channel portion extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, and preferably the second channel portion having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the first channel portion. A cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cross-sectional area of the at least one liquid communication channel is larger than the cross-sectional area of the at least one ventilation channel, and preferably the diameter of the at least one liquid communication channel is larger than 1 millimeter and the diameter of the at least one ventilation channel is between 0.01 millimeter and 0.5 millimeter. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid storage portion is disposed adjacent to the atomization unit, and the at least one ventilation channel extends along the atomization unit to the liquid storage portion. The cartridge described in any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprises a mounting frame configured to mount the atomization unit within the cartridge, the mounting frame at least partially enclosing the atomization unit. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein the at least one ventilation channel is at least partially formed between the mounting frame and a surface area of the atomization unit, preferably the mounting frame includes at least one groove, and the at least one ventilation channel is at least partially formed between the groove and a surface area of the atomization unit. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein the mounting frame includes a sidewall, and the at least one vent channel is at least partially formed within the sidewall, and preferably the at least one vent channel is serpentine within the sidewall extending along the longitudinal axis. A cartridge as described in claim 7 and claim 2, wherein the portion of the at least one ventilation channel formed in the side wall is the first channel portion. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the atomization unit comprises a heating element and a porous body, and preferably the heating element is disposed on the heating surface of the porous body. The cartridge described in claim 9, which is further dependent on either claim 7 or 8 and further dependent on either claim 5 or 6, wherein the mounting frame is positioned over a portion of the heating surface of the porous body, and preferably a portion of the at least one ventilation channel is formed between the mounting frame and the heating surface of the porous body. The cartridge described in claim 10, further dependent on claim 2, wherein the portion of the at least one ventilation channel formed between the mounting frame and the heating surface of the porous body is the second channel portion. A cartridge as described in either claim 10 or 11, wherein the mounting frame surrounds a cross-sectional portion of the porous body extending transversely to the heating surface, and a portion of the at least one ventilation channel is formed between the mounting frame and the cross-sectional portion of the porous body. The cartridge described in claim 12, which is further dependent on claim 2, wherein the portion of the at least one ventilation channel formed between the mounting frame and the cross-sectional portion of the porous body is the first channel portion. A cartridge according to any one of claims 5 to 7 or 9 to 13, wherein the mounting frame has at least one liquid opening for providing a liquid communication channel between the liquid storage portion and the atomization unit, and preferably the liquid storage portion is positioned adjacent to the atomization unit. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the airflow path is separated from the at least one ventilation channel. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the liquid storage portion comprises a retaining material configured to absorb the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol generation system comprising the cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 16 and an aerosol generator, wherein the aerosol generator comprises a power supply and a controller, the power supply configured to supply power to the atomization unit, and the controller configured to control the operation of the atomization unit. The aerosol generation system of claim 17, wherein the cartridge is configured to be removably connectable to the aerosol generation device.