Aerosol Generating Device with Optimized Air Inlet Arrangement

Abstract

The present invention concerns an aerosol generating device configured to operate with a consumable article comprising a substrate portion. The device comprises a heating chamber extending along a chamber axis, configured to receive at least the substrate portion and comprising a plurality of contact walls designed to be in contact with an external surface of the substrate portion. The plurality of contact walls comprises a bottom wall and at least one lateral wall.The heating chamber further comprises an inlet portion comprising an inlet hole of an airflow path extending through the substrate portion. Said inlet portion extends on the bottom wall and/or on the or at least one lateral wall to create an airflow gradient at least at a region of the heating chamber adjacent to this inlet portion.

1 . An aerosol generating device configured to operate with a consumable article comprising a substrate portion containing a solid substrate and defining an external surface;
 the aerosol generating device comprising a heating chamber extending along a chamber axis and configured to receive at least the substrate portion of the consumable article;   the heating chamber comprising a plurality of contact walls designed to be in contact with the external surface of the substrate portion of the consumable article, the plurality of contact walls comprising a bottom wall arranged substantially perpendicularly to the chamber axis and at least one lateral wall arranged substantially parallel to the chamber axis, the bottom wall being in contact with the or each lateral wall along a common border;   the heating chamber further comprising a heating element extending from a centre of the bottom wall parallel to the or at least one lateral wall;   the heating chamber further comprising an inlet portion comprising an inlet hole configured to be in communication with an airflow path extending through the substrate portion of the consumable article when the substrate portion is received in the heating chamber and when the device is operated to generate aerosol;   said inlet portion extending on the bottom wall and/or on the or at least one lateral wall to create an airflow gradient at least at a region of the heating chamber adjacent to the inlet portion, said airflow gradient extending from the centre of the bottom wall to the common border.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said inlet portion extends:
 on the bottom wall, according to each transversal direction perpendicular to the chamber axis and passing through a centre of the bottom wall, from the common border to at least ⅜, a total length of the bottom wall in the transversal direction; or   on the or at least one lateral wall, according to the chamber axis, from the common border to at least ⅔ of the total length of the or at least one lateral lateral wall according to the chamber axis.   
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein said inlet portion comprises a plurality of inlet holes. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the inlet portion extends on the bottom wall; and   concentration and/or dimensions of the inlet holes increases from the centre of the bottom wall to the common border.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the inlet portion extends on the bottom wall; and   the inlet holes are arranged symmetrically with respect with the centre (C) of the bottom wall.   
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the inlet portion extends on the or at least one lateral wall; and   at least two inlet holes are arranged according to the chamber axis, and homogeneously according to the chamber axis.   
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 6 , wherein the inlet portion extends on a unique lateral wall forming a cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein at least two inlet holes are arranged to face each other. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of inlet holes is arranged circumferentially on said cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device to  claim 6 , wherein the substrate portion of the consumable article is wrapped in a wrapper, the wrapper comprising a plurality of openings; and
 the inlet holes of the inlet portion being arranged to face said openings.   
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating chamber comprises a plurality of inlet portions. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one inlet portion extends on the bottom wall and at least one inlet portion extends on the or at least one lateral wall. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating chamber further defines an open end opposite to the bottom wall. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each inlet portion forms a unique air permeable portion on the corresponding contact wall. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the or at least one inlet hole is arranged adjacent to the common border.