Smoking substitute apparatus

Abstract

A smoking substitute apparatus. The smoking substitute apparatus comprising at least one air inlet and an air inlet passage, an aerosol generator and an outlet, the aerosol generator comprising a heater and being operable to generate an aerosol by vaporizing a liquid aerosol precursor, air flowing in use through said at least one air inlet and air inlet passage, entraining the aerosol and flowing to the outlet when a user draws on the apparatus. A partition wall is provided between the aerosol generator and air inlet passage, in use the partition wall being heated by the heater of the aerosol generator and thereby heating the air in the air inlet passage before entraining the aerosol. The partition wall is formed at least in part by an electrical contact for the heater.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smoking substitute apparatus comprising at least one air inlet and an air inlet passage, an aerosol generator and an outlet, the aerosol generator comprising a heater and being operable to generate an aerosol by vaporizing a liquid aerosol precursor, air flowing in use through said at least one air inlet and air inlet passage, entraining the aerosol and flowing to the outlet when a user draws on the apparatus,
 characterized in that a partition wall is provided between the aerosol generator and air inlet passage, in use the partition wall being heated by the heater of the aerosol generator and thereby heating the air in the air inlet passage before entraining the aerosol,   and wherein the partition wall is formed at least in part by an electrical contact for the heater.   
     
     
         2 . The smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least where the partition wall is formed by the electrical contact, the total thickness of the partition wall is defined by the electrical contact. 
     
     
         3 . The smoking substitute apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the partition wall presents a heat-absorbing surface to the heater, the heat-absorbing surface having an area of at least 15 mm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The smoking substitute apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the partition wall presents a heat-transmitting surface to the air inlet passage, the heat-transmitting surface having an area of at least 15 mm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The smoking substitute apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein, in use, a proportion of the air flow from the air inlet to the outlet bypasses the aerosol generator. 
     
     
         6 . The smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein substantially all of the air flow from the air inlet to the outlet bypasses the aerosol generator. 
     
     
         7 . The smoking substitute apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the aerosol generator includes a wick, which has a longitudinal axis which is coextensive with a width of the partition wall. 
     
     
         8 . The smoking substitute apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the aerosol generator and partition wall are located within a vaporization chamber having an oval cross-section, and wherein the partition wall is substantially aligned with a long axis of the oval cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The smoking substitute apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the air inlet is a first air inlet, and the smoking substitute apparatus further comprises a second partition wall provided between the aerosol generator and a second air inlet, the second partition wall and second air inlet being located on an opposite side of the heater to the first partition wall and first air inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The smoking substitute apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the heater is a coil heater, which helically encompasses a wick, and wherein the helical axis of the helical coil heater is substantially aligned with the partition wall. 
     
     
         11 . The smoking substitute apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the smoking substitute apparatus is comprised by or within a cartridge configured for engagement with a base unit, the cartridge and base unit together forming a smoking substitute system. 
     
     
         12 . A smoking substitute system comprising:
 a base unit; and   a smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the smoking substitute apparatus is removably engaged with the base unit.   
     
     
         13 . A method of using the smoking substitute apparatus of any of  claims 1  to  11  to generate an aerosol. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the heater heats air in the air inlet passage to at least 50° C. before entraining the aerosol.