Aerosol-generating device comprising airflow guiding element extending into heating chamber

Abstract

An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: an aerosol-generating device having a mouth end; and an aerosol-generating article, the device including: a heating chamber to receive and heat the article, and an airflow guiding element within the chamber and extending longitudinally towards the mouth end, the element to be inserted into the article upon receipt within the chamber, a width or external diameter of the element varying along a length thereof, and a first portion of the element having a width or external diameter corresponding to a maximum width or external diameter of the element, and a second portion of the element located upstream of the first portion having a width or external diameter smaller than the maximum width or external diameter, the article including: an aerosol-generating substrate as a hollow tubular segment defining a substrate cavity extending from an upstream end to a downstream end of the substrate.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 an aerosol-generating device having a mouth end configured to receive an aerosol-generating article; and   an aerosol-generating article configured to produce an inhalable aerosol upon heating,   wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises:
 a heating chamber configured to receive and to heat the aerosol-generating article, and 
 an airflow guiding element located within the heating chamber and extending longitudinally towards the mouth end of the aerosol-generating device, the airflow guiding element being configured to be inserted into the aerosol-generating article upon receipt within the heating chamber, 
 wherein a width or external diameter of the airflow guiding element varies along a length of the airflow guiding element, and 
 wherein a first portion of the airflow guiding element has a width or external diameter corresponding to a maximum width or external diameter of the airflow guiding element, and a second portion of the airflow guiding element located upstream of the first portion has a width or external diameter smaller than the maximum width or external diameter of the airflow guiding element, 
   wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises:
 an aerosol-generating substrate in a form of a hollow tubular segment defining a substrate cavity extending from an upstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to a downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate, and 
 a downstream section located downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate, the downstream section comprising one or more of a mouthpiece element and a hollow tubular element, 
   wherein upon receipt of the aerosol-generating article within the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device, the airflow guiding element extends longitudinally into the substrate cavity, and   wherein an airflow channel is defined between an external surface of the airflow guiding element and an internal surface of the aerosol-generating substrate.   
     
     
         17 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a heating element configured to heat the aerosol-generating article received within the heating chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the heating element is provided at or about a periphery of the heating chamber. 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 an aerosol-generating device having a mouth end configured to receive an aerosol-generating article; and   an aerosol-generating article configured to produce an inhalable aerosol upon heating,   wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises:
 a heating chamber configured to receive the aerosol-generating article at the mouth end of the aerosol-generating device, 
 a heating element provided at or about a periphery of the heating chamber and being configured to heat the aerosol-generating article received within the heating chamber, and 
 an airflow guiding element located within the heating chamber and extending longitudinally towards the mouth end of the device, the airflow guiding element being configured to be inserted into the aerosol-generating article upon receipt within the heating chamber, 
   wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises:
 an aerosol-generating substrate in a form of a hollow tubular segment defining a substrate cavity extending from an upstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to the downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate,
 wherein, upon receipt of the aerosol-generating article within the heating chamber of the device, the airflow guiding element extends longitudinally into the substrate cavity, and 
 wherein an airflow channel is defined between an external surface of the airflow guiding element and an internal surface of the aerosol-generating substrate, and 
 
 a downstream section located downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate, the downstream section comprising one or more of a mouthpiece element and a hollow tubular element. 
   
     
     
         20 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein an outer surface of the airflow guiding element is textured or uneven. 
     
     
         21 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein a maximum width or diameter of a portion of the airflow guiding element extending into the heating chamber is at least about 25 percent of a diameter of the heating chamber. 
     
     
         22 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein a maximum width or diameter of a portion of the airflow guiding element extending into the heating chamber is at least about 50 percent of a diameter of the heating chamber. 
     
     
         23 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein the airflow guiding element extends along at least 50 percent of a length of the heating chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein the airflow guiding element comprises an airflow inlet at a first position and an airflow outlet at a second position downstream of the first position, such that an airflow pathway is defined within and along the airflow guiding element. 
     
     
         25 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein the airflow guiding element comprises a hollow tube. 
     
     
         26 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the airflow guiding element comprises an elongate body comprising a central core portion and an extension portion located along the central core portion, and   wherein the extension portion extends outwardly from the central core portion.   
     
     
         27 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 26 , wherein the airflow guiding element comprises at least two extension portions located along the central core portion. 
     
     
         28 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein a wall thickness of the aerosol-generating substrate is between 5 percent and 40 percent of an external diameter of the aerosol-generating substrate. 
     
     
         29 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein a width or diameter of the airflow guiding element is smaller than a diameter of the substrate cavity. 
     
     
         30 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein a maximum width or diameter of the portion of the airflow guiding element extending into the substrate cavity is at least about 25 percent of a diameter of the substrate cavity. 
     
     
         31 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein the aerosol-generating article, when received within the aerosol-generating device, is further configured to extend beyond the mouth end of the aerosol-generating device. 
     
     
         32 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein the aerosol-generating article is further configured to be received through a mouth end of the heating chamber.