Inductive heating systems for smoking articles
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorsJohn M. Campbell, Grier S. Fleischhauer, Charles T. Higgins, Robert L. Ripley, David E. Sharpe, Michael L. Watkins, Susan E. Wrenn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An induction heating source is provided for use with an electrical smoking article. The induction heating source provides an alternating electromagnetic field which inductively heats a susceptor in thermal proximity with tobacco flavor medium to generate aerosols. A plurality of induction heaters are employed and/or the tobacco flavor medium is translated with respect to the induction heater or susceptor. The tobacco flavor medium can form an intimate structure with the susceptor and can take the form of a cylindrical cigarette or a web.
Claims42
A heating system for an electrical smoking article for smoking tobacco flavor medium comprising:
- a generator for producing an alternating magnetic field,
- a susceptor material which is inductively heatable by the alternating magnetic field and positioned relative to the generator so as to be heatable by the alternating magnetic field, and
- a tobacco flavor medium in thermal proximity to the susceptor material.
A heating system for an electrical smoking article for smoking a tobacco flavor medium in thermal proximity to a susceptor material, the heating system further comprising:
- a controller which activates said induction source.
A heating system for an electrical smoking article for smoking a tobacco flavor medium in thermal proximity to a susceptor material heated inductively by an alternating magnetic field, the heater comprising:
- a ferrite ring structure capable of and adapted for encircling the tobacco flavor medium and susceptor;
- an excitation coil wrapped around said ferrite structure and wound through the annular interior;
- and
- a ring gap defined through an inner circumferential wall of said ferrite ring structure, whereby the alternating magnetic field collapses at the defined gap.
A heating system for an electrical smoking article for smoking a tobacco flavor medium in thermal proximity to a susceptor material, the heating system comprising:
- a plurality of generators for producing an alternating magnetic field,
- susceptor material which is capable of being heated by said alternating magnetic field and positioned relative to the generators so as to be heatable by the alternating magnetic field, and
- a tobacco flavor medium, wherein said susceptor material is located in thermal proximity to the tobacco flavor medium, and wherein said plurality of generators are positioned to heat separate portions of the tobacco flavor medium via the susceptor material.
A heating system for an electrical smoking article for smoking a cylindrical tobacco flavor medium in thermal proximity to a susceptor material, the heating system comprising:
- a plurality of generators for producing an alternating magnetic field;
- a susceptor material which is capable of being heated by said alternating magnetic field and positioned relative to the generators so as to be heatable by the alternating magnetic field;
- and
- a cylindrical tobacco flavor medium,
- wherein said susceptor material is located in thermal proximity to the cylindrical tobacco flavor medium, and
- wherein said plurality of generators are positioned to heat separate portions of the tobacco flavor medium via the susceptor material and are arranged circumferentially around the cylindrical tobacco flavor medium in the same plane.
A heating system for an electrical smoking article for smoking a cylindrical cigarette tobacco flavor medium in thermal proximity to a susceptor material, the heating system comprising:
- a plurality of generators for producing an alternating magnetic field,
- susceptor material which is capable of being heated by said alternating magnetic field and is positioned relative to the generators so as to be heatable by the alternating magnetic field, and
- a cylindrical cigarette in thermal proximity to the susceptor material, wherein the heating system further comprises:
- a cylindrical tube, said tube defined by spaced apart, coaxial inner and outer walls, the inner wall defining a hollow cylindrical receptacle for insertion of the cylindrical cigarette, said plurality of generators located between the spaced apart inner and outer walls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.