Aerosol-generating device with venting means

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a heating chamber configured to receive an aerosol-generating article; a sealed housing compartment; a heating element provided in the sealed housing compartment; and a venting means configured to allow gas flow from the sealed housing compartment to an outside of the aerosol-generating device to compensate for heat expansion of gas inside the sealed housing compartment due to a heating operation of the heating element. A method for operating an aerosol-generating system, a venting membrane, and an aerosol-generating system, are also provided.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol-generating device, comprising:
 a heating chamber configured to receive an aerosol-generating article;   a sealed housing compartment;   a heating element provided in the sealed housing compartment; and   a venting means configured to allow gas flow from the sealed housing compartment to an outside of the aerosol-generating device to compensate for heat expansion of gas inside the sealed housing compartment due to a heating operation of the heating element.   
     
     
         20 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 , wherein the venting means has a water entry pressure of at least 5 Kilopascal. 
     
     
         21 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 , wherein the venting means has a water entry pressure of about 12 Kilopascal. 
     
     
         22 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 , wherein the venting means has an airflow capacity of 3000 to 7000 milliliter per square centimeter and minute at 7 Kilopascal. 
     
     
         23 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 , wherein the venting means has an airflow capacity of 5000 to 5200 milliliter per square centimeter and minute at 7 Kilopascal. 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 , wherein the venting means comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene applied on a backing layer. 
     
     
         25 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein the venting means comprises a membrane, and   wherein the membrane is connected to a carrier substrate having a central opening with a size of at least 0.5 square millimeter.   
     
     
         26 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein the venting means comprises a membrane, and   wherein the membrane is connected to a carrier substrate having a central opening with a size of at least 2 square millimeters.   
     
     
         27 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 25 , wherein the membrane has a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 millimeter. 
     
     
         28 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 25 , wherein the membrane has a thickness of about 0.15 millimeter. 
     
     
         29 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein the venting means comprises an opening in the housing compartment and a channel extending in a housing compartment wall, and   wherein an extension direction of the channel is in a different direction than an opening direction of the housing opening.   
     
     
         30 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 29 , wherein the channel is a recess extending in the housing compartment wall. 
     
     
         31 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 29 , wherein the channel connects the venting means to a recessed area in the housing compartment wall. 
     
     
         32 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 31 , wherein a screw head is arranged in the recessed area. 
     
     
         33 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 31 , wherein an electrical connector is arranged in the recessed area. 
     
     
         34 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein a cover panel is arranged outside of the venting means, and   wherein a gap is provided in between the cover panel and the venting means.   
     
     
         35 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 34 , wherein the venting means is arranged in a distance of 0.3 millimeter to 1 millimeter to the cover panel. 
     
     
         36 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein the sealed housing compartment comprises a button configured to interact with control electronics in the sealed housing compartment, and   wherein movement of the button alters an inside volume of the sealed housing compartment.   
     
     
         37 . A method for operating an aerosol-generating system, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting an aerosol-generating article in a heating chamber of an aerosol-generating device;   heating the aerosol-generating article by means of a heating element to generate aerosol, wherein the heating element is provided in a sealed housing compartment of the aerosol-generating device; and   allowing heated gas to flow from the sealed housing compartment to an outside through a venting means.   
     
     
         38 . A venting membrane in an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element inside a sealed housing compartment, wherein the venting membrane is configured to compensate for heat expansion of gas due to heat produced in a heating chamber receiving an aerosol-generating article. 
     
     
         39 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 ; and   an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate.