A system and method for flow control in aerosol-generating system

Abstract

An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a storage compartment containing an aerosol-forming substrate; a retention material configured to retain the substrate; an aerosol-generating element proximate to the retention material; an aerosol-forming substrate flow path defined between the compartment and the retention material, the flow path including first and second internal diameters, the second diameter being greater than the first; a ferromagnetic body positioned in the flow path; and an electromagnet configured to move the body between the first and the second positions upon an application of power to the electromagnet, in which in the first position the body restricts flow of the substrate to the retention material to a greater degree than in the second position, and in which in the first position the body is aligned with the first diameter and in the second position the body is aligned with the second diameter.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 a storage compartment containing an aerosol-forming substrate;   a retention material configured to retain the aerosol-forming substrate;   an aerosol-generating element proximate to the retention material;   an aerosol-forming substrate flow path defined between the storage compartment and the retention material, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate flow path comprises a first internal diameter and second internal diameter that is greater than the first internal diameter;   a ferromagnetic body positioned in the aerosol-forming substrate flow path; and   an electromagnet configured to move the ferromagnetic body between a first position and a second position upon an application of power to the electromagnet,   wherein in the first position the ferromagnetic body restricts flow of aerosol-forming substrate to the retention material to a greater degree than in the second position, and   wherein in the first position the ferromagnetic body is aligned with the first internal diameter and in the second position the ferromagnetic body is aligned with the second internal diameter.   
     
     
         16 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 15 , wherein a diameter of the ferromagnetic body is equal to or greater than the first internal diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate flow path. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 15 , wherein an internal surface of the aerosol-forming substrate flow path is defined by a surrounding wall or walls forming the first internal diameter and the second internal diameter. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 15 , wherein the surrounding wall or walls are tapered from the second internal diameter to the first internal diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 15 , wherein the surrounding wall or walls comprise a groove or grooves at the second internal diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 15 , wherein the electromagnet surrounds an end of the aerosol-forming substrate flow path. 
     
     
         21 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a permanent magnet configured to attract the ferromagnetic body to the first position. 
     
     
         22 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 21 , wherein the ferromagnetic body is attracted to the second position when power is applied to the electromagnet. 
     
     
         23 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a spring. 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 23 , wherein the ferromagnetic body is attracted to the first position overcoming the resilient bias of the spring when power is applied to the electromagnet. 
     
     
         25 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 15 , wherein the ferromagnetic body is a sphere comprising stainless steel. 
     
     
         26 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 15 , further comprising control electronics configured to control the application of power to the electromagnet and movement of the ferromagnetic body. 
     
     
         27 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a net between the aerosol-forming substrate flow path and the retention material. 
     
     
         28 . A method of supplying aerosol-forming substrate to an aerosol-generating element in an aerosol-generating system, the system comprising a storage compartment containing aerosol-forming substrate, a retention material proximate to the aerosol-generating element configured to retain the aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol-forming substrate flow path defined between the storage compartment and the retention material, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate flow path comprises a first internal diameter and second internal diameter that is greater than the first internal diameter, a ferromagnetic body situated in the aerosol-forming substrate flow path; and an electromagnet, the method comprising:
 supplying power to the electromagnet to move the ferromagnetic body between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the ferromagnetic body restricts flow of aerosol-forming substrate to the retention material to a greater degree than in the second position, and wherein in the first position the ferromagnetic body is aligned with the first internal diameter and in the second position the ferromagnetic body is aligned with the second internal diameter.