Smoking machine

Abstract

A smoking machine for smoking a smoking article is disclosed. The smoking machine comprises one or more electrochemical cells for analyzing the composition of a smoke stream from the smoking article. This can allow a gas or vapor phase chemical to be analyzed directly in real time without the need for pre-conditioning or preparation.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . A smoking machine arranged to smoke a smoking article, the smoking machine comprising an electrochemical cell arranged to analyze the composition of a smoke stream from the smoking article. 
   
   
       31 . A smoking machine according to  claim 30 , wherein the electrochemical cell is arranged to detect a gas in the smoke stream. 
   
   
       32 . A smoking machine according to  claim 31 , wherein the electrochemical cell is arranged to oxidize the gas to be detected. 
   
   
       33 . A smoking machine according to  claim 31 , wherein the electrochemical cell is arranged to reduce the gas to be detected. 
   
   
       34 . A smoking machine according to  claim 31 , wherein the electrochemical cell is arranged to output an electrical signal indicative of one of the presence and the amount of the gas to be detected. 
   
   
       35 . A smoking machine according to  claim 34 , further comprising an amplifier arranged to amplify the output of the electromagnetic cell. 
   
   
       36 . A smoking machine according to  claim 34 , further comprising a processor arranged to process the output of the electrochemical cell. 
   
   
       37 . A smoking machine according to  claim 36 , wherein the processor is arranged to log an amount of a detected gas over time as the smoking article is smoked. 
   
   
       38 . A smoking machine according to  claim 30 , wherein the electrochemical cell is located in a chamber which is in communication with the smoke stream. 
   
   
       39 . A smoking machine according to  claim 38 , wherein the chamber is a dedicated analysis chamber located in the path of the smoke stream. 
   
   
       40 . A smoking machine according to  claim 38 , wherein the chamber is a filter pad chamber. 
   
   
       41 . A smoking machine according to  claim 38 , wherein the chamber comprises a sub-chamber which accommodates the electrochemical cell. 
   
   
       42 . A smoking machine according to  claim 30 , comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells. 
   
   
       43 . A smoking machine according to  claim 42 , wherein at least two electrochemical cells are sensitive to different gases. 
   
   
       44 . A smoking machine according to  claim 42 , wherein each of the electrochemical cells is located in a separate sub-chamber. 
   
   
       45 . A smoking machine according to  claim 44 , wherein two or more sub-chambers are arranged to dilute the smoke stream by a different amount. 
   
   
       46 . A smoking machine according to  claim 42 , further comprising a processor arranged to determine a cross interference between different gases based on an output of two or more electrochemical cells. 
   
   
       47 . A smoking machine according to  claim 46 , wherein the processor is arranged to solve a set of at least two simultaneous equations involving at least two measurements and at least two unknowns. 
   
   
       48 . A smoking machine according to  claim 42 , wherein two electrochemical cells which are both sensitive to the same gas are located one on either side of a filter pad. 
   
   
       49 . A smoking machine according to  claim 48 , further comprising a processor arranged to compare a concentration of a gas detected before the filter pad with a concentration of the gas detected after the filter pad. 
   
   
       50 . A smoking machine according to  claim 30 , further comprising a gas permeable membrane located between the smoking article and the electrochemical cell. 
   
   
       51 . A smoking machine according to  claim 50 , wherein the membrane is removable. 
   
   
       52 . A smoking machine according to  claim 30 , arranged to analyze main stream smoke. 
   
   
       53 . A smoking machine according to  claim 30 , arranged to analyze side stream smoke. 
   
   
       54 . A method of analyzing the composition of a smoke stream from a smoking article, the method comprising the following steps:
 smoking the smoking article; and   detecting one of the presence and quantity of a gas in the smoke stream using an electrochemical cell.