Aerosol-generating device and heater assembly

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device for coupling to a cartridge is provided, the aerosol-generating device including: a cartridge coupling portion configured to engage a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate; an air flow passage defined between an air inlet and an air outlet; and a heater assembly including a fluid-permeable heating element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate from the cartridge, a first side and a second side, the first side opposing the second side, the first side forming at least part of a surface of a wall of the air flow passage, and the second side forming part of the cartridge coupling portion and being configured to contact the cartridge to receive the aerosol-forming substrate, and a support including a thermal conduction material in thermal contact with the fluid-permeable heating element, the support providing mechanical support to the fluid-permeable heating element. A heater assembly and an aerosol-generating system are also provided.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An aerosol-generating device for coupling to a cartridge, the aerosol-generating device comprising:
 a cartridge coupling portion configured to engage a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate;   an air flow passage defined between an air inlet and an air outlet; and   a heater assembly comprising:
 a fluid-permeable heating element configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate from the cartridge, 
 a first side and a second side, the first side opposing the second side,
 wherein the first side forms at least part of a surface of a wall of the air flow passage, and 
 wherein the second side forms part of the cartridge coupling portion and is configured to contact the cartridge to receive the aerosol-forming substrate, and 
 
 a support element comprising a thermal conduction material in thermal contact with the fluid-permeable heating element, wherein the support element provides mechanical support to the fluid-permeable heating element. 
   
     
     
         16 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 15 , wherein the support element further comprises at least one of aluminium, copper, brass, gold, silver, or thermally conductive ceramic. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 15 , wherein the heater assembly further comprises a heater holder comprising a heat resistant polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 17 , wherein the heater holder has an aperture defined therethrough. 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 18 , wherein the heater holder comprises an upper plate and a lower plate, and the aperture is defined through the upper plate and the lower plate. 
     
     
         20 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 18 , wherein the fluid-permeable heating element spans at least part of the aperture. 
     
     
         21 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid-permeable heating element is a heating wire, with a diameter of 0.1 millimetre to 0.5 millimetre, or a diameter of 0.02 millimetre to 0.2 millimetre. 
     
     
         22 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 15 , further comprising a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector,
 wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are configured to supply power to the fluid-permeable heating element, and the fluid-permeable heating element is configured to be resistively heated.   
     
     
         23 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the heater assembly further comprises a heater holder comprising a heat resistant polymer,   wherein the heater holder has an aperture defined therethrough, and   wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are situated adjacent to the aperture.   
     
     
         24 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the heater assembly further comprises a heater holder comprising a heat resistant polymer,   wherein the heater holder has an aperture defined therethrough, and   wherein the support element is situated adjacent to the aperture.   
     
     
         25 . A heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device, the heater assembly comprising:
 a heater holder comprising an aperture;   a heating element spanning at least part of the aperture;   first and second electrical connectors in electrical contact with the heating element; and   a support element providing mechanical support to the heating element and comprising a thermal conduction material in thermal contact with the heating element.   
     
     
         26 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 15 ; and   a cartridge comprising an aerosol-forming substrate in fluid communication with a wicking material, wherein the wicking material forms part of an external surface of the cartridge.   
     
     
         27 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 26 , further comprising a compressible element configured to be compressed by the cartridge when the cartridge is received by the aerosol-generating device. 
     
     
         28 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 26 ,
 further comprising a mouthpiece and a cartridge air flow passage defined between a cartridge air inlet and a cartridge air outlet,   wherein the cartridge air inlet is aligned with a device air outlet and the mouthpiece comprises the cartridge air outlet.