Aerosol Generation Unit With Thermally Expandable Element for Controlling Liquid Supply

Abstract

An aerosol generation unit for use in an aerosol generation device or consumable includes a wicking element and a variable clamping element for controlling wicking of liquid by the wicking element. A The aerosol generation unit includes the wicking element in communication with a liquid reservoir, one or more clamping elements configured to thermally expand and contract to variably clamp at least a portion of the wicking element for controlling the amount of wicking, by the wicking element, of liquid contained in the reservoir, and a heating element or heat transfer element configured to apply heat to the wicking element and the one or more clamping elements. By variably clamping the wicking element, the capillary effect of the wicking element can be increased, reduced, or substantially suppressed. This allows the flow rate of liquid into the wicking element to be controlled based on the heat applied to the clamping element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.