CN1316205A

CN1316205A - Electric smoking system for delivering tobacco smell and manufacturing method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN1316205A
Application number: CN 00121723
Authority: CN
Inventors: 艾尔弗雷德·L·柯林斯; 玛丽·E·康茨; 艾米塔博·达斯; 西撒阿马·C·迪维; 格里尔·S·弗莱施豪尔; 莫哈马德·R·哈贾洛戈; 帕特里克·H·海斯; 查尔斯·T·希金斯; 小威利·G·霍克; 小比利·J·基恩; 伯纳德·C·拉勒; 罗伯特·E·李三世; 小利利·A·克利夫顿; 彼得·J·利波维茨; 小洛斯·D·布鲁斯; 麦卡弗里·J·休; 唐纳德·E·迈泽; 康斯坦斯·H·尼科尔斯; 温·R·雷蒙德; 罗伯特·L·里普利
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2000-07-25
Filing date: 2000-07-25
Publication date: 2001-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2014-02-25
Also published as: CN1259006C

Abstract

An electric smoking system for supplying cigarette smell and its making technology is disclosed. It said system, the exchangeable cigarette is installed to an electric heater in lighter to release vapour and smoke and apply them to smoker. The different types of airflow can be provided to make the air flow into cigarette transversely, so improving the supply of smoke and smell to smoker and decreasing aggregation of vapour or smoke staying in heating region.

Description

Transmit the electric smoking system and the manufacture method thereof of cigarette perfume (or spice)

The application is dividing an application of Chinese patent application 94102530.6.

The present invention is relevant with cigarette smoking system that is made of cigarette and lighter and manufacture method thereof.

Disclosed a kind of electric smoking article in our U.S. Patent No. 5,060,671, this patent is classified reference as at this.The smoking article that this patent disclosed has one group of disposable electric heating part.The medium with tobacco flavor that contains such as tobacco or the material that extract from tobacco all is housed on each electric heating part.Disposable heater/combinations of perfumes is received such as the such power supply that electric energy is provided of battery or capacitor with according to the smoker and is aspirated this smoking article or push on the control circuit that hand switch drives heating member.Control circuit is designed to each suction and makes one but be not whole heating member startup work at least, and making has certain number of share of stock, the per share material with tobacco flavor (response that for example contains the smog of tobacco flavor or distribute tobacco flavor) that contains some to send the smoker to.Control circuit can prevent that also any one heating member from starting once more, thereby has advanced to exempt from the tobacco spice above the excessive heat.

Use such article, heater will be thrown away after using up remaining tobacco material.In addition, be electrically connected the plug repeatedly that to stand continuous replacing spices assembly between heater and the battery.

At subsequent application No.08/012 that propose, that now proposed by on February 2nd, 1993 in our 11 days March in 1991, the 799 relevant unsettled U.S. Patent No.s 07/666 that replaced, in 926, disclosed a kind of electric smoking article, it has the part of one a group of reusable heating member and a disposable generation tobacco flavor.This disposable use partly comprises a spices section and a fillter section that couples together with bag end paper or other fixed structure.Yet owing to used reusable heating member, this article some problems that worked together, particularly residual flue dust can accumulate on the heating member and some other long-term structural member that uses of this article.

The objective of the invention is to make problem set forth above to improve.

A kind of embodiment cigarette smoking system of the present invention comprises cigarette and lighter, and its advantage is that the transmission of cigarette improves.The heating member that a kind of advantage that embodies cigarette smoking system of the present invention is a lighter is reusable, makes the volume of disposable use part drop to minimum.

A kind of advantage that embodies system of the present invention is to make flue dust gathering on the heating member of lighter and other member significantly reduce.

A kind of advantage that embodies smoking article of the present invention and manufacture method thereof be easy to manufacture, cost is low, even can produce with the large-scale production speed of modern technologies.

Various embodiments of the present invention can also have the smog of making and fragrance sends the improved advantage of smoker to.

According to the preferred embodiment that embodies one aspect of the invention, provide a kind of and tobacco flavor has been sent to the cigarette that uses in smoker's the cigarette smoking system what contain heater.This cigarette comprises a carrying pipe, and this carrying pipe has at separated first end and second end of making progress that continue, and also has first surface and second surface.First surface has surrounded a chamber between first end and second end, second surface comprises the zone that can be close to heater.Material with tobacco flavor is configured on the first surface of carrying pipe.This cigarette perfumery matter produces tobacco flavor and sends the smoker in the chamber when being subjected to the heater heating.Carrying pipe and cigarette perfumery matter can allow crossflow to enter in the chamber.

Preferred embodiment according to embodying another aspect of the present invention provides a kind of lighter that is used with replaceable cigarette in the cigarette smoking system of tobacco flavor being given the smoker.This lighter comprises that first termination by it receives the heater of a replaceable cigarette.Certain part that this heater has at least to replaceable cigarette provides cross-flow device.One group of electric heating part is housed in heater.Each heating member all has a surface that can abut on the cigarette by crossflow on that part of.The device that drives one or several electric heating part in this group electric heating part also is housed in the lighter, makes in cigarette, to produce the predetermined tobacco flavor of one size.Crossflow produces when the smoker aspirates cigarette in lighter.

Preferred embodiment according to embodying third aspect present invention provides a kind of cigarette smoking system that tobacco flavor is sent to the smoker.This system drives electric heating part work one by one, makes to produce the predetermined tobacco flavor of one size in the chamber of cigarette.

Preferred embodiment according to embodying fourth aspect present invention provides a kind of and tobacco flavor has been sent to the heating member that uses in smoker's the cigarette smoking system.This heating member comprise one first end, second end and one group between first and second ends, be used for increasing the buckled zone of heating member resistance.Heating member is made with resistance material, has first and second surfaces of general arrangement in a plane.Its total length is L, and gross weight is W, and thickness is T.Effective electrical length of heating member is greater than L, and the effective electric sectional area of heating member is then less than the product of W and T.

Preferred embodiment according to embodying fifth aspect present invention provides a kind of in the manufacture method that tobacco flavor is sent to the integrated heating component that uses in smoker's the cigarette smoking system.

According to the method, a slice resistive material is cut into one group of at least at one end interconnective heating member.This sheet material is rolled into a drum.

Illustrate some embodiment that embody various aspects of the present invention below in conjunction with accompanying drawing.In these accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is for embodying the perspective schematic view of a cigarette smoking system of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the perspective schematic view of the partly cut-away of an embodiment cigarette smoking system of the present invention;

Fig. 3 A is for embodying the side sectional view of a heater of the present invention;

Fig. 3 B can cut open the end-view of getting for the 3B-3B along Fig. 3 A;

Fig. 4 A is for embodying the perspective schematic view of a cigarette of the present invention;

Fig. 4 B cuts open the sectional view of getting for the 4B-4B along Fig. 4 A;

Fig. 5 is for embodying the schematic assembled view of a heater of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is for embodying the perspective view of a heating component of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is for embodying the expansion outline drawing of a heating component of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is for embodying the fragmentary, perspective view of a heating member of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is for embodying the perspective view of a lead assemblies of the present invention;

Figure 10 A is for embodying the side schematic sectional view of a lining of the present invention;

Figure 10 B cuts open the explanatory view of getting for the 10B-10B along Figure 10 A;

Figure 10 C cuts open the explanatory view of getting for the 10C-10C along Figure 10 A;

Figure 11 A is for embodying the side schematic sectional view of a pedestal of the present invention;

Figure 11 B cuts open the explanatory view of getting for the 11B-11B along Figure 11 A;

Figure 11 C is for to cut open the explanatory view of getting along Figure 11 C-11C;

Figure 12 A is for embodying the perspective schematic view of a lining substrate combination member of the present invention;

Figure 12 B cuts open the side schematic sectional view of getting for the 12B-12B along Figure 12 A;

Figure 12 C cuts open the explanatory view of getting for the 12C-12C along Figure 12 A;

Figure 12 D cuts open the explanatory view of getting for the 12D-12D along Figure 12 A;

Figure 13 is the end-view of a ring in the one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 14 A is the perspective schematic view of an end cap in the one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 14 B can cut open the side schematic sectional view of getting for the 14B-14B along Figure 14 A;

Figure 14 C cuts open the explanatory view of getting for the 14C-14C along Figure 14 A;

Figure 14 D cuts open the explanatory view of getting for the 14D-14D along Figure 14 A;

Figure 15 A is for embodying the schematic side elevation of a heating jacket of the present invention;

Figure 15 B cuts open the end-view of getting for the 15B-15B along Figure 15 A;

Figure 16 and 17 is the schematic side elevation of the some parts of a cigarette smoking system, shows the path of air-flow in this cigarette smoking system;

Figure 18 illustrates the electrical schematic diagram that embodies circuit configuration of the present invention;

Figure 19 is for embodying the side schematic sectional view of another cigarette smoking system of the present invention;

Figure 20 is for embodying the side schematic sectional view of another heater of the present invention;

Figure 21 is the perspective schematic view of the equipment of the part of the disposable cigarette of manufacturing Figure 19 cigarette smoking system;

Figure 22 is for embodying a schematic cross sectional views that periphery aspirates embodiment of cigarette smoking system of the present invention;

Figure 23 illustrates the electrical schematic diagram that embodies another kind of circuit configuration of the present invention; And

Figure 24 is the electrical schematic diagram of a timing network of control circuit among Figure 23.

Fig. 1 and 2 shows a kind of cigarette smoking system 21 that comprises a cigarette 23 and a repeatedly used lighter 25 of the present invention.Cigarette can insert the aperture 27 of lighter 25

front ends

29 and 27 take off from the aperture.Cigarette smoking system 21 resembles usual cigarette very much on occupation mode.Cigarette 23 is thrown away having inhaled once or several times, and lighter is then just thrown away after having inhaled quite a lot of cigarettes.

Lighter 25 with casing 31 has front portion 33 and rear portion 35.Power supply 37 into the heating member power supply of heating cigarette 23 is housed in the rear portion 35 of lighter 25.Preferably can opening and close easily by the device such as screw or spring are buckled in rear portion 35, is beneficial to change power supply.The heating member and the circuit arrangement that are electrically connected with power supplys 37 in the rear portion 35 forwardly are housed in 33.Anterior 33 by cooperating and can be inserted into easily on the rear portion 35 such as dovetail joint or female type.The hard heat proof material of casing 31 usefulness is made, and as metal base material, more recommendable is the polymeric substrates material.Casing 31 is made the shape that can cosily be held in smoker's hand, and overall size is 1.5 centimetres of 10.7 cm x, 3.8 cm x.

A certain size power supply 37 provides enough power for the heating member of heating cigarette 23.Power supply 37 is preferably replaceable and chargeable, can contain the device an of electric capacity or a battery and so on.In the preferred embodiment of being introduced, power supply is that an open-circuit voltage is approximately 4.8 volts to 5.6 volts replaceable rechargeable battery (be actually with four nickel-cadmium cells and be in series).Yet the characteristic of power supply 37 will be selected with the situation of other device, particularly heating member of 21 according to smoking system.U.S. Patent No. 5,144,962 have introduced several power supplys that can be used for cigarette smoking system of the present invention, for example rechargeable battery formula power supply and with the repid discharge condenser type electric capacity of battery charge.Therefore this patent is in this row referenced patent.

A heating cigarette 23 is housed in the front portion 33 of lighter, makes cigarette be clipped in columnar heater 39 on the lighter 25 and one control circuit 41 that can send each heating member the heater (not shown in Fig. 1 and 2) surely to from power supply 37.In this preferred embodiment of being introduced, heater 39 comprises 8 radially divided heating members 43, as shown in Figure 3A.These heating members obtain the power supply of power supply 37 one by one under the control of

circuit

41,8 zones round cigarette 23 peripheries are heated, so that produce 8 strands of tobacco flavors.Though the number of heating member 43 can not be 8, preferably 8, because nominal has 8 strands on the cigarette of a routine, and 8 heating members are fit to carry out electric control with binary device.

Circuit 41 smokes to drive by one changes sensor 45 (see figure 2) startup work.This sensor changes responsive to roll up the pressure change or the air-flow that were taken place at 23 o'clock in smoker's smoking.Suction driving sensor 45 is installed in the front portion 33 of lighter 25, the passage 47 by a lining 49 that passes heater and pedestal 50 and, if necessary, a smoking sensing pipe (not shown) communicates with the spaces of close cigarettes 23 in the heater 39.In U.S. Patent No. 5,060, introduced a kind of suction driving sensor 45 in 671, be well suited for being used in this cigarette smoking system 21, this patent is classified reference as at this.This sensor is Yi Linuo Si state Fuli Pood's micro switch portion of good anti-Weir company (Microswitch dicisionof Honegwell, Inc., Freeport, Ill.) the 163PCOID35 type silicon sensor of manufacturing.Caused pressure change makes a suitable heating member job in this sensor startup heating member 43 when the smoker aspirates cigarette 23.Those pneumatic sensors that utilize hot line to survey the wind principle prove successfully that also the detection that can be used for according to variations in flow starts a suitable heating member 43.

An indicator 51 is housed on the outer surface of lighter 25, preferably is contained on anterior 33, be used to refer to the also surplus several strands of cigarettes of the cigarette 23 that inserts in the lighter and do not have suction.Indicator 51 comprises 7 sections LCDs.In this preferred embodiment, when optical sensor 53 (see figure 2)s detect light beam that it sends from new cigarette 23 front end reflex times that insert, indicator 51 just demonstrates numeral " 8 ".Optical sensor 53 is installed in the lining 49 and the opening 55 in the pedestal 50 of heater 39, as shown in Figure 3A.Optical sensor 53 provides signal to circuit 41, and circuit 41 is added to signal on the indicator 51.Indicator 51 shows on every cigarette 23 of numeral " 8 " expression has 8 strands of cigarettes to inhale, and that is to say, goes back neither one in these heating members 43 and once starts this new cigarette of heating.After cigarette 23 all sucked, indicator 51 showed digital " 0 ".When cigarette 23 when lighter 25 takes off, optical sensor 53 detects less than cigarette 23, indicator 51 is turned off.Optical sensor 23 is adjusted to the state that is not always to send light beam, to reduce the loss of unnecessary power supply 37.The preferred light sensor 51 that is applicable to cigarette smoking system 21 is OPR5005 type optical sensors. by Ao Puteke technology company (OPTEK Technology, Inc., 1215 West Crosby Road, Carrollton, Texas75006) manufacturing.

Above-mentioned optical sensor 53 also can replacing with other form.A mechanical switch (not shown) for example can be installed detect whether cigarette 23 is arranged, a SR (not shown) can be installed, when a new cigarette inserts lighter 25, circuit 41 be resetted, for example make indicator 51 show numeral " 8 ", or the like.The power supply, circuit, puff sensor and the indicator that are applicable to cigarette smoking system 21 of the present invention have introduction in the U.S. Patent No. 5,060,671 of classifying reference as.Passage 47 in lining 49 and heater pedestal 50 and opening 55 are preferably airtight during smoking.

Fig. 4 A and 4B at length show the used preferred cigarette 23 of a cigarette smoking system 21, though this cigarette also can be other desired form, send the smoker to as long as can produce tobacco flavor when heated object 43 heating.Cigarette 23 comprises tobacco volume 57, contain by carrying tobacco cigarette perfumery matter 61 the carrying pipe or send smoke pipe 59 to constitute.Tobacco is rolled up 57 1 ends and wraps on the columniform back airflow filtering device 63, and the other end wraps on the columnar first free stream filter 65.The first free stream filter 65 is tubular filters, and there is a vertical passage 67 in central authorities, and is therefore very little to draw resistance, the air-flow freedom.

Need volume one deck cigarette paper 69 on tobacco volume 57.Can draw together low quantitatively (Unit Weight) paper as the paper bag of cigarette paper 69, preferably have the paper of tobacco spice coating or contain the paper of tobacco, distribute the tobacco flavor of tobacco flavor response with enhancing.The concentrated extracting solution that on cigarette paper 69, can coat concentrated extracting solution or be diluted.Cigarette paper 69 preferably quantitatively hangs down the paper of thin thickness, but enough hot strengths will be arranged, so that machine processing processing.The paper that contains tobacco preferably has following characteristic: quantitatively at 20-25 gram/rice ²Between (relative humidity is 60%), minimum air penetrability is Ke 0-25 Leicester (CORESTA be defined as in pressure difference is 1.0 kPas of next minutes by one square centimeter of material (as paper) be the air capacity of unit with the cubic centimetre), hot strength equals 2000 grams for being wider than for 27 millimeters (1 inches), thickness is the 1.3-1.5 mil, calcium carbonate content is smaller or equal to 5%, and citrate is 0%.The material that is used for making cigarette paper 69 preferably includes the tobacco-containing sheet (mixed fillers of non-cigar type, liquid or liquid gas-solidization and clean stem) more than or equal to 75%.Can add some flax fibers, but amount is exceeded with the hot strength that can be met requirement.Cigarette paper 69 also can be quantitatively to be 15-20 gram/rice ²Common flax fiber paper or have this paper of extract coating.Can add some citrus pectin type adhesives, its amount is not more than 1%.Also can add some glycerine, its amount Ying Yineng obtains the such rigidity of common cigarette paper and exceeds.

Cigarette 23 also comprises a columniform filter tip 71 and columnar second a free stream filter 73.Filter tip 71 is a common choked flow type filter preferably.Bag end paper 75 wraps tightly filter tip 71 is in the same place with the second free stream filter 73.Bag end paper 75 extends through the top of the second free stream filter 73, is bonded on the cigarette paper 69.The top of the first free stream filter 65 is right after the top of the second free stream filter 73.73 central authorities also have a vertical passage 77 as the first free stream filter, 65, the second free stream filters.The back airflow filtering device 63 and the first free stream filter 65 and tobacco volume 57 have surrounded the chamber 79 in the cigarette 23.

The internal diameter of the vertical passage 77 of the best second free stream filter 73 is greater than the internal diameter of the vertical passage 67 of the first free stream filter 65.The internal diameter of vertical passage is preferably between 1 to 4 millimeter, and the internal diameter of vertical passage 77 is preferably between 2 to 6 millimeters.Have found that,

passage

67 and 77 internal diameter differences help having cigarette perfumery matter and forming desirable the mixing and mixed flow between the inhaled air during the smog that produces and the smoking outside cigarette 23 in heating, the response of distributing tobacco flavor is improved, and the end of filter 71 can be exposed among the mixing smog more.Heating cigarette perfumery matter and the response of distributing tobacco flavor that produces mainly is vapour phase in chamber 79, and in passage 77 owing to immixture is converted into visible smog.The first free stream filter 65 also can adopt other tobacco flavor that can make gas phase and the air of introducing to produce desirable structure of mixing except adopting the above-mentioned structure that has a vertical passage 67.For example, the first free stream filter can be made a filter form with a large amount of apertures, that is to say that the first free stream filter can be cellular or have the metal plate-like in a series of holes.

The best overwhelming majority of air is that horizontal (radially) is by tobacco volume 57 and cigarette paper 69 rather than vertical by in the back airflow filtering device 63 suction cigarettes 23.Yet as following will the explanation, the airflow filtering device enters after wishing to allow air communication during first strand of cigarette on the smoking volume, can reduce the resistance to suction like this.Be appreciated that vertically air being sucked cigarette 23 can cause and can not make owing to enclose heating member 43 heating tobaccos volumes, 57 smog that produce 79 discharges from the chamber effectively that tobacco is rolled up 57 radial arrangement.It is desirable for the tobacco flavor that is produced now and almost completely depend on the constituent of tobacco volume 57 and the energy of heating member 43.Therefore, except first strand of cigarette, vertically the smaller the better during smoking by that part of air-flow of back airflow filtering device 63.In addition, back airflow filtering device 63 can make the smog stream of exhaust chamber 79 backward for minimum after cigarette perfumery matter 61 obtains heating, to reduce the possibility that the smog that flows out backward from cigarette damages lighter 25 devices.

The carrying pipe of carrying cigarette perfumery matter 61 or send smoke pipe 59 that heating member 43 and cigarette perfumery matter 61 are separated conducts the heat that heating member produced to cigarette perfumery matter 61, and makes that the cigarette of inhaling is unlikely to scatter.The carrying pipe of being recommended 59 comprises non-those carrying pipes of knitting system carbon fiber bed course formation that hot property is stable.The relevant unsettled U.S. Patent application No.07/943 that proposed on September 11st, 1992 same assignee of these carrying pipes has detailed discussion in 747.This patent is classified reference as at this.The best thickness of these bed courses between 0.05 millimeter to 0.11 millimeter, is made up of the non-system carbon fiber of knitting greatly, and it is quantitatively greatly about 6 gram/rice, 2 to 12 gram/rice ²Between, and fibre diameter is greatly between 7 microns to 30 microns.The length of fiber should guarantee that bed course stands suffered tensile stress during the processing.Best, bed course should contain the adhesive that is applicable to electric smoking article (promptly have subjectivity and can accept character).

Other carrying pipe 59 comprises low-quality net metal sieve or multicellular metal foil.For example, can service property (quality) be approximately 5 gram/rice, 2 to 15 gram/rice ², line directly is approximately 0.038 millimeter (1.5 mil) metallic screen to 0.076 millimeter (3.0 mil).Another embodiment be thick with a slice be that the metal forming (as aluminium foil) of 0.0064 millimeter (about 0.25 mil) constitutes the carrying pipe, dashing above has a series of diameters to be about 0.3 millimeter to 0.5 millimeter hole, makes that the quality of metal forming is corresponding to reduce 30% to 50%.Best, (promptly not alinement) arranged in the staggered or discontinuous arrangement in the hole on the metal forming, to reduce to leave the lateral heat conduction of cigarette perfumery matter 61.

This metalloid sieve and metal forming can be incorporated in the cigarette 23 by different way.For example: the slurries that (1) will have a tobacco flavor are coated in and will sieve before doing on the band or paper tinsel is stacked on the wet slurries, and (2) will sieve with suitable binding agent or paper tinsel adheres on the substrate or bed course with tobacco flavor.Because the electrical short that uses metal carrying pipe can cause heating member 43 itself to reach between each heating member, this metal carrying pipe does not directly contact with heating member usually.Therefore in the occasion of using metal carrying pipe, be stained with such as the such low weight paper of cigarette paper 69, so that metal carrying pipe 59 insulate with electric heating part 43 in that metal carrying pipe is outer with suitable adhesive.

The tobacco volume of now being recommended 57 is to adopt papermaking process to make.In this technical process, at first water washes tobacco rods.Use in the DDGS last coating operation afterwards.(extraction) baccy fiber that is left is used for constituting base wad.Carbon fiber is dispersed in the water, adds mosanom.Also can add any other hydrocolloid and replace mosanom, as long as this hydrocolloid does not disturb the effect of distributing tobacco flavor, water soluble, and have suitable molecular weight to increase the intensity of tobacco volume 57.Disperse thing to mix this with the slurries and the available spices of the baccy fiber that is extracted.Resulting mixture soak is divided on the fourdrinier wire,, just form a base wad by the remainder of traditional paper machine.The most handy reverse roller coat device that is configured in behind a cylinder that is the Yang Ji drier will wash the side that DDGS that tobacco rods sweeps away is coated in base wad.The ratio of DDGS of tobacco and tobacco particles is preferably between 1: 1 to 20: 1.Slurries also can water or be extruded on the base wad.Perhaps, last coating operation off line is carried out.During the last coating or after, add in the cigarette industry spices commonly used.Add pectin or other hydrocolloid, amount is between 0.1% to 2.0%, to improve the coating character of slurries.

No matter adopt which kind of carrying pipe 59, the cigarette perfumery matter 61 that is configured on this carrying pipe internal surface is wanted to be attached on the surface of carrying pipe, emits tobacco flavor being subjected to heating.These materials comprise in the form of sheets, foamed, gelatinous, also can be the slurries of drying or the spraying slurries of drying.Though these materials not necessarily but the material that preferably contains tobacco or extract from tobacco, this is at U.S. Patent application No.07/943 cited above, more detailed discussion is arranged in 747.

Best, during handling, add such as glycerine or the such wetting agent of propane diols in the tobacco volume 57, its amount is 0.5% to 10% of tobacco volume weight.Wetting agent helps forming visible smog owing to play a part the smog parent.When smoker's ejection contained the smog of tobacco flavor and wetting agent, wetting agent condensed in atmosphere, and the wetting agent of cohesion has just formed the smog of common cigarette.

Because cigarette perfumery matter 61 of the present invention is configured in the surface of carrying pipe 59, therefore can specially change the characteristic of the smoke of sending, make each burst smoke type all have nothing in common with each other.For example, the cigarette perfumery matter 61 of contiguous first heating member 43 can contain first kind of spices, and the cigarette perfumery matter 61 amounts second kind spices all different with type of contiguous second heating member.Therefore, by incomparable inconsistent cigarette perfumery matter is configured in the carrying tube-surface, can make the smoker be drawn onto different smokes selectively.For example, the smoker can locate the long-term relatively heating member that uses of disposable cigarette 23 when cigarette is inserted lighter 25 as required, and like this, a specific heating member just can heat a predetermined portions of the fragrant material of non-consistent cigarette.

In addition, according to the present invention, can be by providing controlled energy to change tobacco flavor selectively to heating member 43.For example, if the energy (as 20 joules) that offers heating member 43 on first greater than the energy that offers second heating member 43 (as 1.5 joules), the temperature that first heating member reached generally will be higher than second temperature that heating member reached so.Therefore, first heating member generally produces than the bigger tobacco flavor of second heating member.Like this, the energy that sends each strand to by change just can be controlled the size of tobacco flavor selectively.

Cigarette 23 best diameters are constant, as common cigarette, are roughly 7.5 millimeters to 8.5 millimeters, make the smoker the same with common cigarette to " mouthfeel " of cigarette smoking system 21.In this preferred embodiment, the total length of cigarette 23 is 58 millimeters, therefore can pack this cigarette with common packing machine.Filter tip 71 adds that the length of the second free stream filter 73 is 30 millimeters.Bag end paper 75 stretches out 5 millimeters on the second free stream filter, 73 tops, wraps on the tobacco volume 57.The length of tobacco volume 57 is 28 millimeters.The two ends of tobacco volume 57 be bearing in respectively length be 7 millimeters back airflow filtering device 63 and length be 7 millimeters the first airflow filtering device 63 on.The length in the chamber 79 that is surrounded by tobacco volume 57, back airflow filtering device 63 and the first free stream filter 65 is 14 millimeters.

When cigarette 23 inserts in the aperture 27 of lighter 25 front ends 29, cigarette 23 just in abutting connection with or the end inner face 81 of lining 49 in the heater 39 almost, with the passage 47 that communicates with smoking driving sensor 45 and that the opening 55 of optical sensor 53 is installed is adjacent, as shown in Figure 3A.On this position, heating member 43 is close in the chamber 79 of cigarette 23, and second free stream filter 73 of cigarette and filter 71 parts are all stayed outside the lighter 25, each heating member 43 all some footpath is inwardly inclined to one side, in order to cigarette 23 relative lighter 25 are remained on the appropriate location, make heating member directly or by cigarette paper 69 heat to be passed to tobacco volume 57.Therefore, cigarette 23 preferably can push, so that make heating member 43 can compress into the side of cigarette.

Air-flow by cigarette 23 has several modes.For example, in the embodiment of the cigarette shown in Fig. 4 A and the 4B 23, cigarette paper 69 and tobacco volume 57 all are fully ventilative, so that obtain desired draw resistance, make that air horizontal (radially) is by cigarette paper and tobacco volume inflow chamber 79 when the smoker aspirates cigarette.As previously mentioned, Tou Qi back airflow filtering device 69 can be used for making the vertical inflow chamber 79 of air.

Necessary, can on the zone of one or several adjacent cavities 79, open a series of pore (not shown) that penetrate cigarette paper 69 and tobacco volume 57, be beneficial to crossflow and enter chamber 79.Have been found that these pores can improve the response of distributing tobacco flavor and the formation of smog.The density that penetrates the pore of tobacco volume 57 is approximately per 1 to 2 square millimeter 1, and the diameter of each pore is between 0.4 millimeter to 0.7 millimeter, and corresponding Ke Leicester (CORESTA) porosity is between 100 to 500.The air penetrability of cigarette paper 69 is preferably between 100 to 1000 Ke Leicesters.Certainly, desirable in order to obtain such as the such smoking characteristic of draw resistance, also can be with being different from above-described stomatal frequency and relevant hole diameter.

Both pore (not shown) of tobacco volume 57 that also can be by penetrating cigarette paper 69 improve the situation that crossflow enters chamber 79.When this cigarette 23 with this class pore of processing, can earlier cigarette paper 69 and tobacco volume 57 be sticked together button hole again, stick together again after also can punching respectively, make the superimposed aligning of each pore.

Fig. 3 A mouth 3B shows a preferred embodiment of heater 39.Fig. 5 shows the view sub-anatomy of the embodiment of a modified heater 39A, and this heater 39A has the member 49A of a combination lining and pedestal.The member 49A of heater 39A has replaced the lining 49 and the pedestal 50 of the heater 39 shown in Fig. 3 A.It is the common function that Fig. 3 A-3B or heater shown in Figure 5 all have to be provided the space that holds cigarette 23 and the heating member 43 of heating cigarette 23 is provided.

By Fig. 3 A and 3B as seen, heater 39 is configured in the aperture 27 of lighter 25.Cigarette 23 enters in the space that is column substantially of heater 39 from the aperture 27 that back airflow filtering device 63 begins to insert lighter 25.Heater 39 comprises: the annular block 83 with openend of admitting cigarette; an available tubular heating member protective sleeve 85; a tubular air flue cover 87; a heating component 89 that comprises some heating members 43; a conductive pin or a common lead assembly 91, and lining 49 as the common lead of each heating member of heating component.The end inner face 81 of lining 49 blocks cigarette 23 in heating device 39 and on the appropriate location, makes heating member 43 be close to the chamber 79 in the cigarette.In heater 38A shown in Figure 5, the end inner face 81A of member 49A blocks cigarette 23 in heater 39A on the appropriate location.

Whole heater 39 is configured in inside basically, by fastening in place with casing 31 tight fits of lighter 25 front portions 33.The front end 29 that the leading edge 93 of block 83 is configured in lighter 25 perhaps stretches out slightly, and an interior chamfering or rounded portion are preferably arranged, and is beneficial to guide cigarette 23 to insert heater 39.Each heating member 43 of heating component 89 and pin assemblies 91 respectively sell 95 all corresponding site is fastened on the outer surface 97 of lining 49 by frictional fit by ring 99 around.The tail end 103 of the tail end 101 of each heating member 43 and two pin 95 is soldered to respectively and blocks on the corresponding pin 104 on the pedestal 50, and these pins 104 stretch out the outer bottom 105 (seeing Fig. 3 B) of pedestal 50 by each hole 107 of pedestal 50, receive on circuit 41 and the power supply 37.Pin 104 should very closely be stuck on the pedestal 50, makes air unlikely by hole 107 inflows.Pin 104 can insert corresponding socket (not shown), makes heating member 39 supported in lighter 25.Receive on the various components from lead or printed circuit cable that socket is drawn.Two other pin 95 provides additional support, and the intensity of pin assemblies 91 is strengthened to some extent.Passage 47 in lining 49 and the pedestal 50 leads to suction driving sensor 45 and detects the optical sensor 53 that whether is inserted with cigarette 23 in the lighter 25.

Similar, in heater 39A shown in Figure 5, the pin assemblies 91 of each heating member 43 of heating component 89 respectively sell 95 all corresponding site is fastened on the outer surface 97A of member 49A by frictional fit by ring 99 around.The tail end 103 of the tail end 101 of each heating member 43 and two pins 95 stretches out the outer bottom 105A of member 49A, so that receive on circuit 41 and the power supply 37.

Member 49A has a flange 109, has opened two grooves or hole 107A above at least, and the tail end 103 of two pins 95 passes outer bottom 105A by these two hole 107A.Two other pin 95 is used for improving the intensity of pin assemblies 91.The tail end 101 of heating member 43 curves the shape that meets flange 109, stretches out outer bottom 105A along the outside 111 of flange.Passage 47 in the member 49A leads to suction driving sensor 45 and detects the optical sensor 53 that whether is inserted with cigarette 23 in the lighter 25.

Heating component 89 shown in Fig. 3 A, 5 and 6 preferably has the monolithic that the high temperature resistant superalloy material of high mechanical properties forms through laser cutting with a slice.This sheet material is by dashing or laser cutting forms the summary profile sheet 115 of heating component 89 shown in Figure 7 at least.

In profile sheet 115, each heating member 43 connects together at the afterbody 117 of tail end 101 by cutting profile sheet 115 mutually, at front end 119 by forming heating component 89 front portions 121 that part of connecting together.Two sidepieces 123 are between afterbody 117 and anterior 121.Though afterbody 117 and sidepiece 123 will cut at last, help during the processing profile sheet 115 being handled.

After having formed profile sheet 115, each heating member 43 all has wide 125 of will be attached to after on the tobacco volume 57 and narrow 127 of will be connected with circuit 41.Need, narrow 127 of each heating member 43 is having lug boss 129 near tail end 101 places, so that be electrically connected with circuit 41 with pin 104 welding or insertion socket (not shown).Summary profile sheet 115 is handled again, had better use laser cutting, at wide 125 snakelike " track " 131 that forms shown in Fig. 6 and 8.Certainly, need, when forming profile sheet 115, just can cut out track 131.

The sheet that cuts is electropolishing in addition preferably, makes the edge slyness of each heating member 43 smooth.The edge slyness of heating member 43 makes cigarette 23 can insert lighter 25 easily, can not hindered.The sheet that cuts twists in a type frame (not shown), forms tubular.Cut rear portion 117 and sidepiece 123, two edges 133 of anterior 121 are welded together, just formed the heating component 89 of an integral body as shown in Figure 6.

Heating component 89 also can be with other method manufacturing of share.For example, a kind of method is at first the one piece material preliminary working to be become a tube (not shown), is cut again, forms as shown in Figure 6 one group independently heating member.Also heating members 43 that can some are discrete are received one by spot welding and so on and are played and resemble anterior 121 as the public ring of the public electrode of each heating member and mechanical support effect or be with on the (not shown).In addition, can or receive on the sizing ring (not shown) that an internal diameter equals cigarette 23 diameters substantially front portion 121 weldering of heating component 89.This sizing ring helps the tubular heating component and keeps desired shape and gain in strength.

Pin assemblies 91 shown in Figure 9 can be used one of them method manufacturing similar with above-described manufacturing heating component 89.As heating component 89, each pin 95 and the band shape portion that forms pin assemblies 91 front portions 135 are welded into a tubular from rolling after the flat conductive material of a slice is cut off.The internal diameter of pin assemblies 91 is made the external diameter that equals heating component 89 substantially.The front portion 121 of heating component 89 is installed in the front portion 135 of pin assemblies 91, and is with spot welding that these two parts are welded together, makes four pins 95 be configured in each respectively in the open space between the adjacent heating member 43.Shown in Fig. 3 B, four pin 95 (having only two in this preferred embodiment really are electrically connected on the pin 104 that passes pedestal 50) all are arranged radially on the position at those adjacent in 8 heating members 43 two 22.5 ° of angles, receive on the pin 104 that stretches out pedestal.

The various embodiment of lighter 25 of the present invention are designed to and can send tobacco flavor to smoker effectively under the service condition of standard.Specifically, wish 8 strands of cigarettes with 5 to 13 millimeters, preferably 7 to 10 millimeters smog sends the smoker to, and per share cigarette continues 2 seconds, 35 milliliters.Have been found that in order to reach this purpose heating member 43 should can reach about 200 ℃ to 900 ℃ in that heat is passed under cigarette 23 situations.In addition, heating member 43 should consume about 5 to 40 joules energy, and preferably about 10 to 25 joules, more recommendable is about about 15 joules.If heating member 43 requires lower energy, survey heating member 43 and should more bend towards cigarette 23, to improve thermally conductive relation.

Effective surface area with heating member 43 of the characteristic that requires is approximately 3 square millimeters to 25 square millimeters, and resistance is in Europe, about 0.5 Europe to 3.0.More recommendable is that the resistance of heating member 43 is between Europe, about 0.8 Europe to 2.1.Certainly, heating member resistance also depends on the concrete power supply that is used to provide the essential electric energy of heater 43.For example, it is each embodiment that is supplied with by the nickel-cadmium cell (the open circuit total voltage is 4.8 volts to 5.8 volts) of four serial connections that the heating member resistance that more than exemplifies is suitable for electric energy.Perhaps, if with six or eight batteries of serial connection like this, the resistance of heating member 43 should should be Europe, 3 Europe to 5 or Europe, 5 Europe to 7 mutually so.

Making the material of heating member 43 should be selected, and guarantees reliably repeat switch at least 1800 times and does not break down.Heater 39 preferably can be separated disposal from the lighter 25 that comprises power supply 37 and circuit 41 separately, and lighter 25 preferably can remarket behind the switch more than 3600 times.The heating member material also will be selected according to non-oxidizability and difficult reactivity, not oxidized and unlikelyly reacts with cigarette 23 under the temperature that may run into guaranteeing.Need, oxidation and reaction are further avoided in inertia Heat Conduction Material encapsulation that can heating member 43 usefulness such as suitable ceramic material is such.

According to these criterions, the material of electric heater unit comprises doped semiconductor (as silicon), carbon, stainless steel, titanium, cermet material and the metal alloy such as the alloy of nickeliferous, chromium and iron.Mixing with amount is 5 * 10 ¹⁸Impurity/centimetre ³To 5 * 10 ¹⁹Impurity/centimetre ³The resistivity of the silicon semiconductor material of phosphorus impurities should be about 1 * 10 mutually ^-2Europe is centimetre to 1 * 10 ^-3Europe centimetre.This material is correlated with certainly U.S. Patent application No.07/943 row commonly-assigned us for referencial use, has in 505 illustrated.Suitable cermet material comprises 131 carbonization sial and silicon carbide titaniums.Such as the aluminide of nickel and the such anti-oxidation metal compound of aluminide of iron also is suitable material.

Recommendable is to make electric heating part 43 with the heat-resisting alloy with high mechanical properties and high temperature resistance surface degradation.Best, with having high strength and under up to fusing point 80 percent left and right sides temperature, keeping the material of surface-stable to make heating member 43.Some alloys comprise those alloys that are commonly referred to superalloy like this, generally based on nickel, iron or cobalt.Best, the superalloy of making heating member 43 contains aluminium, with the further performance (as non-oxidizability) of improving heating member.A kind of material is this 214 alloy of extra large sodium, can (Haynes International, Inc.of Kokomo Indiana) obtains from Hai Nasi international corporation.It is about 75% nickel, about 16% chromium, about 4.5% aluminium and about 3% iron that this high-temperature material contains weight.

As mentioned above, each heating member 43 of heating component 89 comprises snakelike 131 by one group of interconnective bending (S-shaped substantially) district formation, to increase the effective resistance of each heating member.Snakelike 131 of heating member 43 increased resistance and do not increased the total length of heating member or reduce the cross-sectional width of heating member.Have resistance and be approximately the heating member 43 that Europe, 0.5 Europe to 3, snakelike 131 length is fit to be installed in heater 39 shown in Fig. 3 A and heater 39A shown in Figure 5 N interconnective S shape district preferably arranged, wherein N is approximately 3 to 12, and preferably about 6 to 10.

If snakelike 131 of heating member shown in Figure 8 at first is wide 125 the shape of cutting as shown in Figure 7, make that the width of wide portion is W ₁, length is L ₁With thickness be T, an end 125 of portion ' to the opposite end 125 leniently then " resistance be

R = \frac{p \cdot L_{1}}{W_{1} \cdot T}

Wherein p is the resistivity of employed material.After forming snakelike 131, because effective electrical length of heating member 43 increases and cross-sectional area reduces, therefore the resistance of snakelike portion has just increased.For example, after having formed snakelike 131 on the heating member 43, electric current just passes through heating member along path P.With initial electrical length L ₁Compare, effective electrical length of path P is approximately 9 or 10 and multiply by W ₁(for the snakelike district that 5 complete S shape turnovers are arranged).In addition, cross-sectional area is from W ₁T is reduced to W ₂T.According to the present invention, owing to resistance is proportional to electrical length and is inversely proportional to sectional area, so the all-in resistance increase that reduces all can make heating member 43 of the increase of electrical length and sectional area.

Therefore, in heating member 43, form snakelike 131 and make and on the given area of heating surface (for example for square millimeter to 25 square millimeter), to provide predetermined resistance with the conductive material of smaller size smaller.This feature of the present invention has following three advantages at least.

The first, for certain resistance, constitute heating member 43 with rectangular sheet, its length is longer.Therefore adopt snakelike 131 can make than compact heater 39 and lighter 25 with lower one-tenth is original.

Second, owing in still air, a heating member 43 being heated to the required energy of given operating temperature and along with the increase of the quality of this heating member increases, therefore the capacity usage ratio of snakelike heating member is higher, can provide desired resistance with smaller volume.For example, if the volume of heating member 43 reduces one times, then quality also reduces one times.Like this owing in still air, a heating member 43 is heated to the required energy of given operating temperature and roughly is directly proportional with the quality and the thermal capacity of this heating member, so volume reduce one times just institute's energy requirement reduce one times.This makes heating member 43 have high energy utilization rate.

Less the 3rd advantage of snakelike heating member 43 volumes is relevant with the response time of heating member.Response time be defined as the given energy input of 43 pairs one of a given heating member respond make it temperature from first temperature change to the required time of the second higher temperature.Because the response time of a heating member 43 generally is directly proportional with its volume, therefore can expect a heating member that volume is less, its response time is also shorter.Like this, snakelike heating member 43 is except compact and capacity usage ratio is higher, and it is also very fast to be heated to operating temperature.These characteristics of the present invention provide a more efficiently heating member 43.

Therefore,, just can increase the resistance of heating member by on heating member 43, forming one group tortuous (as serpentine pattern) back and forth, and the sectional area that does not need to increase the length of heating member or reduce heating member.Certainly, also can adopt the pattern that is different from heating member shown in Figure 8 43, be applied in the principle that is embodied in this structure compactness, effective heating member are provided.

Of course, with any suitable method, for example use laser (CO preferably ₂Laser), on heating member 43, cut out snakelike 131.Because the physical dimension very little (for example, the furrow width B among Fig. 8 is roughly 0.1 millimeter to 0.25 millimeter magnitude) of snakelike heating member 43, it is more more desirable than other processing method to form snakelike 131 laser cutting for cutting.Because in laser energy is fit to concentrate among a small circle, so laser energy helps general, quick, accurate and automation processing.In addition, compare with other cutting method (as the discharge cutting), Laser Processing had both reduced the inducedstress that produces on the material being cut, and had also reduced the degree that material is influenced by heat (being the amount of oxidized material).Other method of share has discharge cutting, precision stamping, chemical attack and chemical etching etc.Also can form snakelike 131 with the embossing method of routine.Yet, be appreciated that this method is few of attraction for serpentine pattern at least owing to die wear.

Except cut out snakelike heating member 43 with laser, also available laser (preferably yttrium-aluminium-garnet (YAG) laser) links together each device of lighter effectively.For example, heating component 89 and pin assemblies 91 the most handy CO ₂Or the YAG laser spot welding together.In addition, the tail end 101 of heating member 43 or lug boss 129 preferably also are laser-welded on the wiring pin 104 or suitable circuit devcie or socket of pedestal 50.Certainly, also can link together with various conventional methods of attachment each device with lighter.

According to the present invention, greatly reduce the possibility that in heating member 43, produces the thermally induced stress damage.As shown in Figure 6, be soldered to the tail end 101 (or lug boss 129) on pin 104 or other circuit or the device and produce hot single-piece heating member 43 of snakelike 131 formation, therefore just need not snakelike of separating is welded together with the end.Have found that such welding can cause producing harmful deformation between the period of heating at heating member.The longitudinal centre line of end 101 or lug boss 129 is preferably aimed at snakelike 131 center line.Find that also the center line misalignment also can produce deformation at heating member between the period of heating.In addition, snakelike 131 two opposite ends 131 ' with 131 are " preferably with the non-snakelike portion of symmetric mode (being that each point is on identical direction) junction heating member 43.Opposite end 131 ' and 131 " symmetry this two ends that can prevent snakelike 131 reverse to two opposite directions between the period of heating at heating member and damage snakelike portion.At snakelike 131 two ends, be in corresponding transition region 137 between non-snakelike of heating member 43 and the end ' and 137 " fall bevel, as shown in Figure 6.The transition region 137 ' 137 that is appreciated that down bevel " has also reduced thermally induced stress.

Heating member 43 and heater 39 also have some can avoid because heating and the characteristics that heat the problem that is caused repeatedly.For example, can expect that heating member 43 during heating can extend.Because heating member 43 is fixed between the front end 135 and the ring 99 near heating member tail end 101 of the pin assemblies 91 that the front portion with heating component 89 of fixed-site is connected, the elongation of heating member can cause making heating member or inwardly bend towards cigarette 23 (this is desirable), perhaps outwards is bent away from cigarette 23 (this is undesirable).A hot crack is reserved in outwardly-bent meeting between heating member 43 and cigarette 23.This has caused the efficiency of heating surface of tobacco volume 57 not high, and also inhomogeneous, because change has taken place the degree that contacts with face border between the cigarette on the heating member surface.

For fear of outside distortion, each heating member 43 of heating component 89 is all made aduncate shape, as shown in Figure 3A.Curve inwardly and help guaranteeing that heating member 43 and cigarette 23 be close to and good thermo-contact.The interior bending shape of heating member 43 can be realized in many ways.For example, as shown in Figure 6 cartridge heater is put into one have desired in the type frame (not shown) of bending shape be shaped.Best, before heating component 89 is made tubular, heating member 43 is struck out aduncate shape.Heating member 43 aduncate shapes make heating member during heating curve inwardly more owing to extend.This bending is corresponding mild whole snakelike 131 length range planted agent.The transition region 137 of chamfering ' and 137 " can bend than trickleer snakelike 131 severe.The position that the ratio that so just can avoid thermal stress to concentrate on heating member 43 is easier to damage.

Need, can add a ring (not shown) round snakelike 131 of each heating member 43.This ring plays a part a radiator.When snakelike 131 of heating member 43 extended owing to heating, snakelike 131 just was forced to inwardly towards cigarette 23 bendings.

Except that above-mentioned heating component 89, the heater 39 shown in Fig. 3 A also comprises lining 49 and heater pedestal 50.Shown in Figure 10 A-10C, lining 49 has a columniform outer surface 97, and pin 91 and heating member 43 just are fixed on this outer surface 97 by frictional fit by encircling 99.Lining 49 also comprises the cylinder shape inner wall 141 and a diapire 139 that can allow cigarette enter lining.The end inner face 81 of diapire 139 is used for blocking the cigarette 23 unlikely lighter 25 that go deep into more, makes the correctly relative heating member 43 of cigarette 23 locate.On diapire 139, processed the part 47 of the passage 47 that a formation communicates with suction driving sensor 45 '.The hole that center with lining 49 of part 47 ' preferably is parallel, penetrate diapire 139.On diapire 139, also processed a part 55 that constitutes the opening 55 of configuration optical sensor 53 '.First strand pore 143 from the outer surface 97 of lining 49 extend to always opening part 55 '.First strand pore 143 since provide one from the cigarette peripheral region to the additional air flow passage of back airflow filtering device 63 adjacent domains, thereby help during aspirating cigarette 23 for the first time, providing suitable draw resistance.Enter cigarette 23 because tobacco volume 57 and cigarette paper 69 can hinder air-flow before going back the zone that neither one heating member 43 once heated cigarette, therefore first strand of pore 143 back airflow filtering device 63 by cigarette provides air-flow for this zone of heater 39.Back airflow filtering device 63 allows enough air-flows to enter cigarette 23, thus the draw resistance that will run into when draw resistance being lower than do not adopt this structure.Yet, though back airflow filtering device 63 still will guarantee can flow into said flow during first strand of cigarette, should try one's best " closely ", make to remain in after having aspirated cigarette 23 that smog in the chamber 79 is unlikely to enter lighter 25 by back airflow filtering device.Be a groove of opening on the end of pedestal inner surface 157 having inhaled cigarette 23, this groove just becomes airtight after having loaded onto lining 49.Best, part 47 " is to be made of two that open on the diapire 151 vertical and radial holes that join mutually.The part 55 of opening 55 " is opened on diapire 151.Part 47 on the lining 49 ' aim at the part 47 " and 55 " on the pedestal 50 with 55 ' respectively forms passage 47 and opening 55.

Figure 12 A-12D at length shows the member 49A in heater 39A embodiment shown in Figure 5.Member 49A has a cylindrical outer surface 97A, each sell 95 and heating see that 43 99 are fastened on this outer surface 97A by ring.Member 49A also comprises the cylinder shape inner wall 141A and a diapire 139A that can allow cigarette to insert member.The inner surface 81A of diapire 139A is used for blocking cigarette 23, and cigarette 23 relative heating members 43 are correctly located.On member 49A, can also process a first strand of pore (not shown).The passage 47A that is communicated with smoking driving sensor 45 opens on diapire 139A.Passage 47A be one penetrate diapire 139A, with the parallel hole of member 49A center line.As mentioned above, the tail end of the tail end 101 of each heating member 43 and at least two pins 95 extends through the end outer surface 105A of member 49A, is connected with power supply 37 with circuit 41.A flange 109 is arranged on the member 49A, opened two grooves or hole 107A above at least, make the tail end 103 of two pins 95 to pass through, stretch out outside end outer surface 105A.The tail end of heating member 43 curves the shape that conforms to flange 109, extends through end outer surface 105A along flange outer rim 111.Air flue cover 87A cooperates further the tail end 101 with heating member 43 to be fastened on the appropriate location with the outer rim 111 of flange 109.

Except mentioning especially, convenient in order to reference for the purpose of, below mainly be each part at heater 39 shown in Fig. 3 A-3B to the discussion of cigarette smoking system 21.Yet, be appreciated that these discuss also applicable to the embodiment of heater 39A shown in Figure 5 and other embodiment of specifically not indicating and discuss here.As mentioned above, heater can comprise that some other can finish various such as the devices near the such heater function in the space of heating member of heating cigarette are provided.

Figure 13 shows heating member 43 and pin 95 round the outer surface 97 of the lining 49 shown in Fig. 3 A end-view of fastening ring 99 in addition.The internal diameter of ring 99 should be to surround each heating member 43 with assurance, and with frictional fit these heating members 43 is fastened on the columniform outer surface 97.Be used for holding every the cannelure 159 at 90 ° of angles mutually and thicker respectively sell 95 round what ring 99 inner rim was opened, like this, ring 99 just can surround these and sell 95, and they are fastened on the outer surface 97.

First end 161 of air flue cover 87 is received on the pedestal 50, and second end 163 is received on the block 83.On first end 161 of air flue cover 87 ectoloph 165 is arranged, be used for being stuck in the inside groove 167 on the inwall 155 of pedestal 50.Similar, on second end 163 of air flue cover 87 ectoloph 171 is arranged, be used for being stuck in the inside groove 173 on the inner edge 175 of block 83.Air flue cover 87A among the embodiment of heater 39A shown in Figure 5 is different with the embodiment of the air flue cover 87 shown in Fig. 3.On the first end 161A of air flue cover 87A an inside groove 165A is arranged, be used for being stuck on the ectoloph 167A on the outer rim 111 of flange 109 of member 49A.The part of the close tail end 101 of each heating member 43 is between each junction surface of member 49A and air flue cover 87A.As following will in conjunction with Figure 17 further discuss in addition, if require to increase air-flow, some that can open then that one or several radial hole passes heater 39 are overlapped 87 such parts such as air flue, preferably open on the point suitable along some air communication of air flue cover length.

All are all identical for the block 83 of heater 39 shown in Fig. 3 A and the block 83A of heater 39A shown in Figure 5, and 83 the inwall 177 of just blocking a shot is more longer than the inwall 177A of block 83A.The internal diameter of the inwall 177 of block 83 preferably is not more than the external diameter of cigarette 23; Make cigarette be squeezed for 25B cun with smaller slightly for well, remain on the appropriate location reliably by interference fit at the insertion lighter.Block 39 inwall 117 is longer to be desirable, and this has increased the support to cigarette 23.For the purpose of illustrating, Figure 14 A-14D shows the structure of block 83A.

Have one group of vertical hole or passage 179A on the block 83A, pass block 83A from the front end 93A of rounding or chamfering to back side 181A, space between cigarette in the heater 39A that is used for that air can be flowed into and holds cigarette 23 and the air flue cover 87 makes horizontal (promptly radially inside) air communication cross near the tobacco volume 57 snakelike 131 of heating member 43.As shown in Figure 3A, in this preferred embodiment of the block 83 of heater 39, hole or passage 179 are doing greatlyyer than close front end 93 places near 181 places, the back side, so that obtain a desired smoking resistance.In another embodiment of block, these vertical holes replace with the cannelure (not shown) of opening at the block inwall.By Figure 14 A-14D as seen, open a circumferential groove 183A overleaf on the 181A, be used for holding and supporting the available protective heaters set 85 shown in Figure 15 A-15B.Heaters set 85 is tubular articles, has first end 185 and second end 187, and these two ends all can be included in the groove 183A.Circumferential groove 183A opens at radius and exceeds on the circumference of hole or passage 179A, so that air introduced heater 39 when the smoker aspirates cigarette 23.

Block 83 can be made by mold pressing or machining shown in Fig. 3 A.Preferably block is made a single-piece, the block 83A shown in Fig. 5 by mold pressing.If adopt the method for machining, then blocking a shot 83 is preferably made two, outer part 83 ' with internals 83 ", as shown in Figure 3A.These two be installed together just formed one the block 83.Circumferential notch of processing on the outer surface of " part 83 outside being fit into ' preceding is in internals 83 " with internals 83.This otch internals and outside part formed groove 183 when being installed together.Avoided to carry out machining to a single-piece with two synthetic blocks 83 of machining and formed groove 183.

The smoker can take off heaters set 85 and throw away after having inhaled some cigarettes (for example 30 to 60 cigarettes 23), change a new heaters set again.Heaters set 85 prevents that the inwall 169 of air flue cover 87 is subjected to the effect of the residual smog of generation in the zone between heating member 43 and air flue cover.Heaters set 85 has been arranged, and these smog have just acted on the heaters set 85.

The material of the paper that heaters set 85 usefulness are heat-resisting or plastics and so on is made, and is changed after having inhaled some cigarettes 23 by the smoker.Therefore, with have " tube-in-tube " inverted configuration of receiving as the smog barrier tube of the following tobacco spice assembly that will illustrate, the smog barrier tube will be thrown away with the combinations of perfumes that sucks, and the heaters set 85 of this cigarette smoking system 21 then is fit to re-use.Therefore, simplified the manufacturing of cigarette 23, reduced sucking the quantity of material that to discard behind every cigarette.

Figure 16 shows the preferred flux map that forms briefly in heater 39 and cigarette 23 when smoker's suction filtration mouth 71.Because suction at filter tip 71 places, air is inhaled in the heater 39 between air flues cover or the heaters set (in this view not label) by vertical hole or passage 179, cross the heating member (not shown) that contacts with cigarette 23, pass ventilative cigarette paper 69 and tobacco volume and enter in the chamber 79 of cigarette after 57 (or passing top air-vent).Air 79 flows into the vertical passage 67 of the first free stream filter 65 and the vertical passage 77 of the second free stream filter 73 from the chamber, by filter tip 71 to the smoker.The quantity of passage 179 and size are chosen to make the total corpuscle (TPM) that sends the smoker to for best.In this preferred embodiment, on

block

83,6 or 8 passages 179 have been opened.

As shown in figure 17, need, provide some other air flues to replace or accessory channel 179, make air enter the chamber 79 of heater 39 inside and cigarette 23.For example, can on heater 39, open one or several radial passage 189 by any vantage point (normally putting) at air flue.Can on heater 39, open several vertical passages 191 by pedestal or pedestal and lining (not shown).In addition, the passage 179 of block on 83 can be aforesaid hole or drive cannelure on the inwall 177 of block 83.As mentioned above, need, when smoker's smoking is rolled up, allow vertical air to flow to back airflow filtering device 63 can adding one on the cigarette into chamber 79.

Need, lighter 25 can comprise a sharpening pipe (not shown) of selecting for use, is installed in the heater 39, is used for piercing through the back airflow filtering device 63 of the cigarette that inserts lighter.Therefore the top end of this pipe can make direct gas flow enter in the chamber 79 when the smoker aspirates cigarette 23 in chamber 79.The sharpening pipe has one or several pore in the guiding end, and these pores are preferably opened on the sidewall of pipe, rather than on the leading end of pipe, so that on the direction that helps making air-flow in the chamber, form whirlpool, obtain high velocity air.This eddy current has improved leaked-in air and the smog of cigarette 23 interior generations and mixing of steam.

Figure 18 simply shows the electric control circuit 41 of cigarette smoking system 21.Circuit 41 comprises: the logic circuit 195 that is a special IC (ASIC), detect the suction the driving sensor 45 whether smoker aspirates cigarette 23, detect the optical sensor 53 whether cigarette inserts lighter 25, the liquid crystal indicator 51 of the number of share of stock that also remains on the indication cigarette, power supply 37, and timing network 197.Logic circuit 195 is any one custom circuit that can finish said function.Field programmable gate array, for example can be from Ah's kittel company (Actel Corporation, Sunnyvale, the ACTELA1010A FPGA PL44C that California) obtains, can be by programming combine digital logic function, analog functuion is then carried out by other device.Yet, only need a special IC both can finish analog functuion and also can finish digital function.For example existing explanation in row U.S. Patent No. 5,0660,671 for referencial use of characteristics with control circuit 41 of the present invention and logic circuit 195 similar control circuits and logic circuit.

In this preferred embodiment, 8 independently heating member 43 (not shown among Figure 18) by corresponding field-effect transistor (FET) heating member switch 201-208 be connected to power supply 37 anode and ground.Under the control of logic circuit 195, make heating member switch 201-208 conducting one by one by end points 211-218 respectively.Logic circuit 195 starts and cancel message for each heating member switch 201-208 provides, and makes corresponding heating member startup work and quits work.

Suction driving sensor 45 is added to logic circuit 195 with the signal of indication smoker's suction movement (promptly having continuous air pressure to fall or air-flow) in continuing for some time.Logic circuit 195 has the pulsation measure, more in short-term air pressure fluctuation and longer-term suction cigarette is distinguished, in order to avoid the accidental fluctuation from the signal of suction driving sensor 45 is responded and starts heating member.Suction driving sensor 45 can comprise a piezoresistive pressure sensor or a light lobe formula sensor, is used for driving an operational amplifier, and the output of operational amplifier then is added to logic circuit 195 as a logical signal.The suction driving sensor that is applicable to this cigarette smoking system has (the Microswitsh division of Honeywell of micro switch portion of anti-Weir company, Inc., Freeport, Ill.) the 163PC01D35 type silicon sensor of Zhi Zaoing, Lu Kasi-Nuo fluorine (Lucas-Nova, Freemont, California) NPH-5-02.5G NOVA type sensor, and mountain match company (Sen Sym Incorporated, Sunnycale, SLP004D type sensor California).

Detect optical sensor 53 that cigarette inserts the signal that an indication cigarette 23 has inserted tram in the lighter 25 (promptly detecting the optical sensor of cigarette in lining 49 that is installed in heater 39 and the pedestal 50 within several millimeters by folded light beam) is added to logic circuit 195.A kind of optical sensor that is applicable to this cigarette smoking system is the OPR5005 type optical sensor that Ao Puteke technology company (1215 West Crosby Road, Carrollton, Texas 75006 for OPTEK Technology, Inc.) makes.

For conserve energy, suction driving sensor 45 and optical sensor 53 preferably switch on and off than (for example approximately from 2% to 10%) circularly with low work.For example, the 45 per 10 milliseconds of work of suction driving sensor are 1 millisecond.Fall or air-flow if suction driving sensor 45 (promptly in 40 milliseconds of times) in four pulses in succession all detects the air pressure of indication suction cigarette, then send a signal to logic circuit 195 by lead end 221.Then, logic circuit 195 just by signal of a lead end output suitable among the lead end 211-218, makes a corresponding switch connection among the field-effect transistor heating member switch 201-208.

Similar, optical sensor 53 is worked 1 millisecond in per 10 milliseconds.If optical sensor 53 detects four reflected impulses in succession, indication has cigarette in lighter 25, and then optical sensor 53 sends a signal by lead end 223 to logic circuit 195.Then, logic circuit 195 just sends a signal by lead end 225 to suction driving sensor 45, and the suction driving sensor is connected.Logic circuit 195 also sends a signal by lead end 227 to indicator 51, and indicator 51 is connected.Above-mentioned modulation technique has reduced the required average current of suction driving sensor 45 and optical sensor 53, thereby has prolonged the life-span of power supply 37.

Timing network 197 is a constant Joule energy timer preferably, has been used for a heating member job that has been started by some field-effect transistor heating member switch connections sending a truncated signal by lead end 229 to logic circuit 195 behind one section required time.According to the present invention, timing network 197 sends a truncated signal to logic circuit 195 over time, is the function of the supply voltage that descends gradually between the period of heating at heater during this period of time.Timing network 197 can also prevent to continue to start a heating member 43 behind battery discharge.Some other circuit configuration such as the following timing network that will be illustrated also can be used.

During operation, when inserting a cigarette 23 in the lighter 25, optical sensor 53 just detects cigarette and exists.So optical sensor sends a signal by lead end 223 to logic circuit 195.Logic circuit 195 determines that power supply 37 has filled electricity or or has been in low-voltage state.If after cigarette 23 inserted lighter 25, logic circuit 195 detected the undertension of power supply 37, then indicator 51 flickers, and lighter is also no longer worked, and fills electricity again with or changes new power supply until power supply.Start duration of work at heating member 43, the voltage of power supply 37 also comes under observation, if supply voltage drops to below the predetermined value, then interrupts heating member 43 work.

If power supply 37 has filled electricity, voltage is enough, and then logic circuit 195 is inhaled signal of sensor 45 transmissions by lead end 225 to stabbing, and makes it to determine whether that the smoker is aspirating cigarette 23.Simultaneously, logic circuit 195 sends a signal by lead end 227 to indicator 51, and LCD just shows numeral " 8 " like this, and expression has 8 strands of cigarettes to inhale.

When logic circuit 195 receives that an expression detects that lasting air pressure falls or during the signal of air-flow, logic circuit 195 turn-offs optical sensor 53 during smoking, so that saving power by lead end 221 from suction driving sensor 45.Logic circuit 195 sends a signal by lead end 231 to timing network 197, starts constant Joule energy timer.Logic circuit 195 also by one not counting device determine which heating member in 8 heating members should obtain heating, thereby send a signal by corresponding lead end among the lead end 211-218, a respective switch among the FET heating member switch 201-208 is connected.This corresponding switch keeps connecting during the timer timing always.

When timing network 197 by lead end 229 when logic circuit 195 sends an indication timer and has stopped the signal of timing, the FET heating member switch of that connection just is disconnected, and is added on the corresponding heating member thereby no longer include energy.Logic circuit 195 also descends counting, and sends a signal by lead end 227 to indicator 51, and indicator will show last lacked one (just showing " 7 " after promptly having inhaled first strand of cigarette) like this.When the smoker aspirates cigarette 23 once more, logic circuit 195 will make another predetermined FET heating member switch connection, thereby energy is added on the corresponding heating member.Whole process will repeat, and show digital " 0 " until indicator 51, and this expression cigarette 23 is sucked.When cigarette 23 when lighter takes off, optical sensor 53 indications have not had cigarette, so logic circuit 195 resets.

Some other all device as will be described can be used in the control circuit 41, replaces or auxiliary above-mentioned device.For example, need, can increase various tentative devices.A kind of tentative device is the timing circuit (not shown), is used for preventing the smoking that continues too continually, so that power supply 37 has enough time to recover.Another tentative device is a device that suspends heating member 43 work when the cigarette that inserts heater 39 is unauthorized product.For example, cigarette 23 can have identification marking, and before to heating member 43 power supplies, lighter 25 must identify these marks.

Figure 19 shows another embodiment of cigarette smoking system 222 of the present invention.Cigarette smoking system 222 comprises a disposable cigarette 224 and the reusable lighter 226 with aperture 228 of an admittance cigarette.Cigarette smoking system 222 is " central authorities' suction " systems, and air-flow mainly passes through the central authorities of cigarette 224 and lighter 226.Lighter 226 has a power supply and control circuit (not shown) on that end away from aperture 228 (not shown).As cigarette smoking system 21, cigarette smoking system 222 preferably is equipped with the device such as suction driving sensor and indicator (not shown).

Lighter 226 is covered by a such casing 232 of the similar common cigarette of profile.Casing 232 is preferably made tubulose, can make with heat-resisting plastics or aluminium, also can make with the heavy pound of the bilayer paper that spiral twines.On casing 232, have some pores 233, so that during smoking, allow outside air to be inhaled into lighter 226.Needs are being opened some air duct (not shown) on the cigarette 224 or on some other aspect of lighter 226, so that obtain the air-flow of needs.

Cigarette 224 is similar with cigarette 23.Cigarette 224 comprises one by the carrying pipe of a carrying cigarette perfumery matter (preferably containing tobacco) or the tobacco volume 257 that send smoke pipe 259 to constitute.Tobacco is rolled up 257 1 ends and surrounds a columniform back airflow filtering device 263, and the other end surrounds columniform first a free stream filter 265, thereby has obtained supporting.The first free stream filter 265 can have a vertical passage (not shown).

Cigarette 224 also has a columniform mouth 271 of crossing.Filter tip 271 is a common draw resistance type filter preferably.Cigarette 224 can comprise columniform second a free stream filter (not shown), and this filter helps the tobacco flavor of vapour phase is mixed with air, and this and the second free stream filter 73 discussed above are similar.The back airflow filtering device 263 and the first free stream filter 265 surround a chamber 279 with tobacco volume 257 in cigarette 224.The first free stream filter 265, back airflow filtering device 263 and filter tip 271 can be installed together with the method that is fit to common extensive assembly mechanical.

Different with cigarette 23, cigarette 224 also comprises the smog barrier tube 273 of a ring-type, rolls up 257 configurations separated by a distance round tobacco.Smog barrier tube 273 has significantly reduced owing to heating has the smog that the material 261 of tobacco flavor forms and has condensed upon on the inwall of casing 232.Collar 275 of smog barrier tube 273 usefulness is installed on the cigarette 224 round the first free stream filter 265.The hardness of the collar 275 and smog barrier tube 273 should be enough to prevent that cigarette 224 from being squeezed centering flat and maintenance smog barrier tube and tobacco volume 257, makes that the gap between smog barrier tube and tobacco volume is even substantially.Cigarette paper or bag end paper 269 are fastened on filter tip 271 on the position of an end of the first free stream filter 265, the collar 275 and smog barrier tube 273.

Lighter 226 comprises a heater 239 with heating member 243 of one group (preferably 8) heating cigarette 224.Heating member 243 is preferably linear, extends near 245 places, back airflow filtering device chamber that can hold back airflow filtering device 263 near aperture 228 in lighter 226.Each heating member 243 1 termination becomes common port, preferably near airflow filtering device chamber, back 245 these ends, and near aperture 228 those chamfers, can not damage heating member 243 so that insert cigarette 224.Heating member 243 is accommodated between tobacco volume 257 and the smog barrier tube 273 in the formed gap.

Figure 20 shows the structure of heater 239 briefly.Heater 239 comprises 249, one heating member supports 251 of a heating member pedestal and one group of heating member support arm 253, and all these members all are to make with the stable insulating materials of hot property.Each heating member 243 is installed in respectively on the corresponding support arm 253.The two ends 243 of heating member 243 ' and 243 " electrically contact with conductive finger 255A and 255B respectively.

The end 243 of each heating member 243 ' all be electrically connected, " common port " of formation heating member system.A common port 291 is received on the conductive plate 293, conductive plate 293 then with the end 243 of receiving each heating member 243 respectively ' public conductive finger 255A be connected.Having one or several on the conductive plate 293 allows air to flow into during the suction cigarette in abutting connection with the air duct in the zone of cigarette 224 back airflow filtering devices 263.

A neck piece 299 in abutting connection with conductive plate 293 installations round common port 291 is held in heating member collar 297.Have one or several passage that allows air to flow into passage 295 301 on the neck piece 299.Each conductive pin 303 passes heating member collar 297, and corresponding conductive finger 255B is received on the circuit 241.Conductive finger 255B " is electrically connected with the end 243 of each heating member 243 respectively along 253 configurations of heating member support arm.

The end 255B ' of conductive finger 255B is preferably in addition crooked, to help forming " snap-fastener cooperations " connection between heating member collar 297 and neck piece 299, end 255B ' is contacted with pin 303.Snap-fastener is connected and helps taking off heating member 243 on the lighter 226, is changed or repairs.Pin 303 and common port 291 insert corresponding socket (not shown), and each heating member 243 and the circuit 241 that heating is worked are one by one coupled together.

Figure 21 show briefly the part 224 that comprises tobacco volume 257, first free stream filter 265 and back airflow filtering device 263 that is used for making cigarette 224 ' the embodiment of equipment 321.Be used for making the material 259 of carrying pipe 259 ' pull out from feed axle 323 by the metering roll (not shown).The a series of zones in workshop section's 325 added cigarette perfumery matter 261 spaced apart from each other of carrying tubing strip 259 in this embodiment ' comprise, workshop section 325 also can be in other correct position, such as before with material band 259 ' the twist in station of feed axle 323.Then, the device of material band 259 ' by a coating adhesive, this device comprises one at carrying tubing strip 259 " on coat the coating adhesive workshop section 327 of adhesive area 261A one by one.Perhaps, cigarette perfumery matter 261 can be added to continuously carrying tubing strip 259 ' on, adhesive area 261A then is coated on the precalculated position above the cigarette perfumery matter 261.

Add the downstream that filter workshop section 329 is in coating adhesive workshop section 327.Adding filter workshop section 329 has a rotating-table apparatus 331, alternately a filter 333 or filter 335 are added to carrying tubing strip 259 ' on adhesive area 261A.Device 331 rotating speed and carrying tubing strip 259 ' speed synchronous.

Wraparound workshop section 337 is in the downstream of processing filter workshop section 329.Tubing strip 259 ' wraparound will be carried on filter 333 and 335 in wraparound workshop section 337, form a rod continuously.The rod that forms is cutting off workshop section's 339 cut-outs.Cut off workshop section 339 shearing device is arranged, rod is cut off in the middle of each filter 333 and 335, make the filter 333 be cut into two sections form respectively the part 224 of two cigarettes 224 ' on the corresponding first free stream filter 265, and be cut into the part 224 that two sections filter 335 forms two cigarettes 224 respectively ' on corresponding back airflow filtering device 263.Need, after cut-out, back airflow filtering device 263 processed, form be convenient to heating member 243 surround part 224 ' chamfered end.After cut-out, each part 224 ' (not shown) is inserted in the smog barrier tube 273 in dress barrier tube workshop section, and is fixing with the collar 275.The diameter of barrier tube 273 is greater than the continuous diameter of rod, and length at least with the part 224 that downcuts ' the same.At auxiliary workshop section (not shown), a columniform filter tip 271 is received on the first free stream filter 265 and the smog barrier tube 273, wrap the wraparound material again.

Figure 22 shows the cigarette smoking system 421 as another embodiment briefly.Cigarette smoking system 421 is a kind of " periphery suction " type cigarette smoking systems.In this system, the heating member 443 of lighter 425 is configured in the chamber 427 of the ring part formation of swimming cigarette 423.

Cigarette 423 comprises a tobacco volume 457 with cigarette perfumery matter 461, cigarette perfumery matter 461 be configured in carrying pipe 459 with opposing surface, chamber 427 on.Cigarette 423 also comprises smog barrier tube 473, plunger 475, annular free stream filter 465, annular back airflow filtering device 463 and filter tip 471.Free stream filter 465, back airflow filtering device 463, tobacco volume 457 and smog barrier tube 473 have surrounded a chamber 481.When heating member 443 heating cigarette perfumery matter 461, in chamber 481, just produce tobacco flavor.Preferably wrap cigarette paper or bag end paper 469 on the cigarette 423.A plunger 477 is housed in the heater 439.Plunger 477 cooperates with plunger 475, has significantly reduced the smog through the heating member district of cigarette smoking system 421.Have the hole that some allow the conductor 479 of control heating member 443 pass through on the plunger 477.

Figure 23 shows the schematic diagram of another kind of electric control system 541.Control system 541 should have following function.Control system 541 can be aspirated driving sensor 45 at every turn and start 8 heating member 43 sequencing normally, just selects next heating member 43 for use.Control system 541 can be passed to electric current in the heating member of choosing, and its time is answered long enough, can produce the response of distributing tobacco flavor fully to guarantee common one cigarette, but can not be oversize, otherwise will burn out the material 61 with tobacco flavor.Control system 541 can be controlled indicator 51, makes its indication: what (not inhaling for promptly also surplus several strands) of (1) cigarette 23 residues: whether the voltage of (2) power supply 37 goes beyond the scope; (3) whether do not adorn cigarette in the lighter 25; And the heater of whether having packed in (4) lighter 25 and having packed into such as available snap-fastener cooperation.

Control system 541 is also controlled the gross energy that power supply 37 sends each heating member 43 to.Because the voltage that power supply 37 provides may be also inequality for each strand, thereby the energy that offers each heating member 43 in the time that equates is also different, therefore preferably can be each burst transmission constant energy.In order to transmit constant energy, control circuit 541 monitors the on-load voltage of power supply 37 when 43 work of a heating member, continues to this heating member power supply, until the energy of confessing required joule of number.

As shown in figure 23, control system 541 comprises logic circuit 570, BCD decoder 580, voltage detector 590, timing network 591, suction driving sensor 45, indicator 51 and charge pump circuit 593.Logic circuit 570 can be any circuit common that can finish in this function of discussing, as carry out a field programmable gate array (as the ACTEL A1010A FPGA PL44C of Ah's kittel company) of this class function through programming.Best, logic circuit 570 is operated in low clock frequency (as 33 kilo hertzs), so that conserve energy.

Each heating member 43A-43H receives the anodal and ground of power supply 37 by corresponding field-effect transistor (FET) 595A-595H.Under BCD decoder 580 (preferably 4 of standard to 16 line decoder CD4514B) control, make a corresponding FET conducting among the field-effect transistor 595A-595H by lead end 581-588.BCD decoder 580 receives the signal of two types from logic circuit 570 by lead end 580A: (1) needs the binary-coded decimal of that heating member 43A-43H of startup work; (2) start the signal that switches on and off of this heating member work.

BCD decoder 580 is received the terminals 593A of charge pump circuit 593 by lead end 580B, and this circuit provides the pole tension that is used for driving each field-effect transistor 595A-595H.Charge pump circuit 593 comprises the diode 594 and the electric capacity 595 that is connected to logic circuit 570 that are connected to power supply 37.Logic circuit 570 comprises a regular tap network (not illustrating separately) of receiving lead end 572, and this network can make the voltage increases at lead end 593B place of charge pump circuit 593 to about the twice of the voltage of power supply 37.Diode 594 is kept this voltage, unlikely counter being added on the power supply 37.Therefore, the voltage through multiplication is just arranged on the lead end 580B of decoder 580, be used for strengthening driving, thereby improved the efficient of circuit 541 field-effect transistor 595A-595H.The resistance 596A-596H that is connected in series with the grid of field-effect transistor 595A-595H is used for increasing the charging interval of each grid respectively, so that reduce the high-frequency harmonic that produced, because these high-frequency harmonics can produce noise in control system 541.

Suction driving sensor 45 is to the signal of logic circuit 570 output indication smoker's suction movement (i.e. lasting pressure drop that is about 1 inch water).Therefore, suction driving sensor 45 can comprise a pressure resistance type voltage sensitive sensor that drives operational amplifier, and the output of operation method device then is added to logic circuit 570 as logical signal.For example, voltage sensitive sensor can be the NPH-5-002.5GNOVA type sensor of reed Ka Sinuo fluorine (Lucus Nova), also can be the SLP004D type sensor of mountain match (Sen Sym) company.

For conserve energy, suction driving sensor 45 is done than carrying out work (for example work than be about 2% to 10%) with the unskilled labourer.For example, suction driving sensor 45 is only worked 0.5 millisecond in per 16 milliseconds.This modulation technique has reduced the required time-averaged current of suction driving sensor 45, has therefore prolonged the life-span of power supply 37.

Timing network 5 91 has been used for a heating member startup job one period scheduled time (depending on the energy that sends this heating member to) back to shutoff signal of logic circuit 570 transmissions.According to the present invention, the working time of each heating member 43A-43H should guarantee the resulting energy constant of heating member (for example being about 5 to 40 joules, preferably about 15 to 25 joules) during this period of time, thereby irrelevant with the on-load voltage of power supply 37.Therefore, lead end 591A provides the information of the on-load voltage of turn-on time of each heating member 43 and power supply 37 to timing network 591, supposes that heating member resistance is known and constant (i.e. 1.2 Europe).Lead end 591B sends the shutoff signal that an indication has transmitted constant energy to the lead end 578 of logic circuit 570.

A preferred embodiment of timing network 591 is shown in Figure 24.The lead end 591 of timing network 591 from logic circuit 570 receive one heating member see part A-43H start working constantly begin rise to the signal of loading power voltage from about zero volt.This signal is by resistance-capacitance network 601 (being made up of resistance 603-606, electric capacity 607 and diode 608) filtering rear drive overvoltage detector 602.Overvoltage detector 602 is Maxime company (Maxim Corporation, ICL7665A mistake/undervoltage detector Sunnyvale.California) preferably.According to the present invention, resistance-capacitance network 601 is chosen to make that the lead end 591B of timing network 591 becomes low level state in the moment that predetermined constant energy sends heating member to from high level state.Certainly, also can use other timing network circuit structure.

Need, control circuit 541 can add the restriction of maximum duration to the time of transmitting constant energy.For example, if the voltage of power supply 37 is very low, so that will transmit 20 joules energy with the time more than 2 seconds, logic circuit 570 will be after heater be connected 2 seconds so, even also do not send out 20 joules energy, an automatic shutoff signal is added on the lead end 571.

In another embodiment of the present invention, timing network 591 one section predetermined, send a shutoff signal to logic circuit 570 after transmitting the irrelevant time with energy.Therefore, this timing network 591 sends a shutoff signal after one for example about 0.5 second to the 5 seconds changeless period.

Voltage detector 590 is used for monitoring the voltage of power supply 37, send a signal to logic circuit 170, this signal indication must be to power source charges when the voltage of power supply 37 is lower than first predetermined voltage (as 3.2 volts), and then this signal indication power supply is sufficient after voltage is lower than first predetermined voltage when the voltage of power supply 37 is higher than second predetermined voltage (as 5.5 volts).Voltage detector 590 is preferably used the ICL7665A mistake/undervoltage detector of Maxime company.

As mentioned above, 571 pairs of BCD decoders 580 of logic circuit 570 lead ends are controlled.Logic circuit 570 is also controlled and is used for also having several strands of indicators that can inhale 51 to user's indication.For 8 strands of cigarette smoking systems, indicator is seven sections LCDs of single digital (LCD) preferably.Therefore, for a new cigarette with 8 bursts of cigarette perfumery matter that inserts, indicator 51 will show " 8 ", and for a cigarette that is left one, 51 demonstrations of indicator " 1 ".After having inhaled last one cigarette, indicator 51 just shows " 0 ".

In addition, indicator 51 is not having cigarette or heater cartridge to show " 0 " in lighter or when not having press-button type heating member 243 to be contained in the heater 239.And, go beyond the scope in order to indicate supply voltage, promptly dropped to and recharged level following (for example 3.2 volts), perhaps drop to and recharge below the level and also be not full of electricity at voltage, indicator 51 is with 2 hertz frequency break-make repeatedly.For example, if supply voltage drops to below 3.2 volts immediately after having inhaled first strand of cigarette, then indicator 51 per seconds show twice numeral " 7 ".

Logic circuit 570 is measured high resistance 597 and 598 (as being 1 megaohm) both end voltage respectively by

lead end

597A and 598A and is determined heater or the heating component lighter of whether having packed

into.Resistance

597 and 598 all has an end to receive the drain electrode of

corresponding FET

595G and 595H regularly, and other end ground connection.When not having heating component to pack lighter into, be designated as the drain electrode of two heating members of 43G and 43H among Figure 23 with regard to not receiving corresponding FET 595G and 595H.Therefore, power supply 37 is not added to the drain electrode of field-

effect transistor

595G and 595H yet.The result is not have voltage by logic circuit 570 by

resistance

597 and 598 two ends that lead end 597A and 598H monitor respectively.Therefore, when not having heater to pack lighter into, logic circuit 570 detects two " 0 " on

lead end

597A and 598A.

Under heater had been packed the situation of firing solenoid into, power supply 37 was received respectively on resistance 597 and 598 by heating member 43G and 43H, has all produced a voltage at resistance 597 and 598 two ends.Therefore, logic circuit 570 just detects two " 1 " usually on lead end 597A and 598A.So logic circuit 570 to monitor two resistance (being resistance 597 and 598) be because: make corresponding heating member work if a conducting is arranged among field-effect transistor 595G and the 595H, so corresponding resistance 597 or 598 is just basically by short circuit.Therefore, if only use a resistance, even just may the time the existing heater of having packed into also can indicate the situation of not packing into as yet mistakenly.Yet, if with two resistance, then for example when field-effect transistor 595G conducting, the voltage at resistance 597 two ends is close to 0, but the voltage at resistance 598 two ends is logical one, and when field-effect transistor 595H conducting, the voltage at resistance 598 two ends is close to 0, but the voltage at resistance 597 two ends is logical one.Therefore, use two resistance, carry out the logic OR computing, just can determine whether that having heaters is contained in the firing solenoid by 570 pairs of two signals obtaining from resistance 597 and 598 respectively of logic circuit.

In order to have determined whether that cigarette is contained in the lighter, the auxiliary lead end 599 of logic circuit 570 is just received a signal when cigarette in lighter.Signal on the lead end 599 is produced by the regular tap of machinery or electric startup work because cigarette is arranged by one.If cigarette has the carbon fiber bed course of the present invention of above discussion.Then the signal on the lead end 599 can produce by an electric probe directly being contacted with the carbon bed course, the leakage current by the carbon bed course being monitored.Because the carbon bed course is very insulation not, if therefore a heating member that has an end to receive power supply 37 as shown in figure 23 like that contacts with carbon bed course of the present invention, so no matter whether there is field-effect transistor 595A-595H to start conducting, some electric currents carbon-coating that bleeds is all arranged.According to the present invention, this leakage current with an electric probe that directly contacts with the carbon bed course is monitored whether have cigarette so that detect.

Whether determine to be equipped with in firing solenoid the cigarette except using by the electrical conduction of carbon bed course, need, this electrical conduction also can be used to determine the particular type (for example being X type or Y type cigarette) of the cigarette of being packed into.According to these characteristics of the present invention, two auxiliary lead end (not shown) that contact with the carbon bed course separated by a distance of logic circuit 570 usefulness are determined the resistivity of carbon bed course.Because for a kind of specific cigarette, the resistivity of its carbon bed course be in certain scope with interior (promptly during fabrication, the carbon bed course of dissimilar cigarettes contains carbon fiber and (or) adhesive) of variety classes and quantity, therefore just can determine the type of the cigarette of insertion firing solenoid by measured resistivity.Like this, logic circuit 570 facilities provide predetermined electric energy to supply with this information.

For example, the cigarette of first type or the trade mark is the carbon bed course that has first predetermined resistivity with a kind of, and the cigarette of second type or the trade mark is then with another kind of carbon bed course with second predetermined resistivity.Therefore, if logic circuit 570 can be determined the carbon bed course resistivity of the cigarette that inserts in real time, then just can control the electric energy of supplying with the lighter heating member effectively.

According to holding more than of the present invention a little, electric energy supply situation is that the particular type or the trade mark according to cigarette in the determined lighter changes.For example, after logic circuit 570 is determined to insert the resistivity of cigarette, provide 15 joules of still energy of 20 joules according to resistivity logic circuit 570 decisions that record.In addition, logic circuit 570 also is included in and stops the circuit that any energy is provided when definite cigarette that inserts is not suitable for this lighter.

Get back to Figure 23, before the smoker inhales first mouthful of cigarette, indicator 51 shows for example numeral " 8 ", showing has 8 personal share cigarettes to inhale.Therefore, logic circuit 570 places lead end 51 with the address of first heating member (as heating member 43A), makes BCD decoder 580 select this heater to heat by lead end 580 when smoker's smoking.When the smoker smoked, suction driving sensor 45 sent a high level signal by lead end 575 to logic circuit 570, and the air pressure in the indication lighter descends, the pressure of at least 1 inch water that for example descends.At this moment, logic circuit 570 just sends a signal by lead end 571, in addition conducting of the field-effect transistor 595A of BCD decoder 580 indication first heating member.Then, the voltage on the lead end 580B of BCD decoder 580 is just received the grid of the first field-effect transistor 595A by BCD decoder 580, thereby heating member 43A is connected.

When the first heating member 43A started working, timing network 591 was monitored the gross energy of supplying with heating member at any time, has reached predetermined value (as 20 joules) at gross energy and has constantly sent a logical signal by lead end 578 to logic circuit 570.Then, logic circuit 570 just sends a cut-off signal by lead end to BCD decoder 580, makes decoder 580 disconnect heating member 43A.

After this, when waiting for that the smoker inhales second strand of cigarette, logic circuit 570 sends the address of second heating members (as 43B) by lead end 571 to BCD decoder 580, makes second field-effect transistor 595 be switched on during one cigarette under the smoker inhales.In addition, logic circuit 570 sends a signal that shows numeral " 7 " to indicator 51, also has 7 strands of cigarettes to inhale to smoker's indication.

Need, logic circuit 570 can also comprise the timing circuit that stops one cigarette under the interior at certain time intervals suction of smoker, so that power supply is restored.For example, logic circuit 570 can comprise that one is forbidden that logic circuit 570 sends the circuit (not illustrating separately) of connection signal to BCD decoder 580 by lead end 571 in 6 seconds time outs after BCD decoder 580 sends cut-off signal.Descend the smoker to indicate lighter to be in such interim status if desired, indicator 51 can a certain frequency, as kilohertz, and break-make (promptly indicating) repeatedly with the frequency different with being used to refer to the off-limits frequency of supply voltage

No matter whether lighter is equipped with above-mentioned time-out aspirator or suspends indicating device, when aspirating cigarette for the second time, the smoker (having under the situation of suspending aspirator, need after predetermined time out), control circuit 541 just repeats above each step operation that is used for making first heating member, makes secondary heater work.

Repeat to last heater end-of-job with cocycle always.At this moment, logic circuit 570 sends one to indicator 51 and makes the signal that shows blanking, and forbids that any heater restarts work, until inserted a new disposable use cigarette in lighter.

Though the control circuit 541 of Figure 23 all is shown independence with logic circuit 570, BCD decoder 580, voltage detector 590 and timing network 591, discrete circuit, but the function of these circuit obviously can be brought (as being finished by a monolithic integrated optical circuit) in the independent integrated network fully into.

Need, a disposable use cigarette of the present invention can have to the smoker indicates this cigarette before to insert the measure that lighter took off again afterwards.For example, in one embodiment, have one removable " tear tape " on the still unworn cigarette or other must take off the mark that cigarette could be inserted lighter from cigarette earlier.Like this, a cigarette of having used in the past just no longer has the mark of tear tape and so on.Perhaps, a cigarette of not inhaling has a zone that machinery is variable.Cigarette inserts lighter can make this zone cut be arranged, tear, flatten or other machinery variation.Like this, the smoker just can determine whether this cigarette inserted lighter in the past by observing mechanical variable region.

In addition, if necessary, a disposable use cigarette can also have to the smoker indicates this cigarette once to be heated the measure that produced the response of distributing tobacco flavor.For example, cigarette can have a temperature-sensitive indicator, and this regional color change indicates this cigarette to inhale to the smoker.Perhaps, can have in the temperature-sensitive indicator one fusible it fusing, disconnection or other profile variation indicate this cigarette to inhale to the smoker.Certainly, also can inhale with other temperature-sensitive measure indication cigarette.In addition, obviously can adopt many other electricity or mechanical measure to finish identical purpose, promptly indicate cigarette to inhale to the smoker.

Though the present invention is described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, is appreciated that in these embodiments and can makes all changes, and do not depart from the scope of patent protection of the present invention that proposes as following claim.

Claims

1. lighter that is used in combination with changing cigarette in the cigarette smoking system of tobacco flavor being given the smoker is characterized in that described lighter comprises:

A heater, described heater is admitted interchangeable cigarette by first end, and having to certain part of cigarette at least provides the device of air-flow;

One group of electric heating part, described this group electric heating part is configured in the heater, and each heating member has one and is used for being attached to cigarette for that part of lip-deep surface of air-flow is arranged; And

A drive unit, described drive unit are used for driving one by one heating member, make to produce the predetermined tobacco flavor of size in cigarette, just have the air cross-current to go in the cigarette when the smoker aspirates the cigarette that inserts lighter.

2. the lighter that claim 1 proposed, it is characterized in that: wherein said heater comprises the block that is installed in first end, described block has an opened end portions, is used for admitting cigarette.

3. the lighter that claim 2 proposed is characterized in that: wherein said block and cigarette interference fit.

4. claim 2 or 3 lighter that proposed is characterized in that: the wherein said device that air-flow is provided comprises that one or several opens the air flue on block.

5. the lighter that claim 4 proposed, it is characterized in that: wherein said one or several air flue is the hole of passing block.

6. the lighter that claim 4 proposed is characterized in that: wherein said one or several air flue is out the groove on the block inwall, and the cigarette that these grooves will be inserted in the lighter covers.

7. claim 2,3,4 or 6 lighter that proposed is characterized in that: wherein said heater comprises that one is admitted the cylindrical wall in the space of a part of cigarette at least with block round one.

8. the lighter that claim 7 proposed is characterized in that: the wherein said device that air-flow is provided comprises that one or several opens on block, allows air-flow to flow into the air flue in described space.

9. the lighter that claim 1 proposed is characterized in that: wherein said heater comprises that one crosses one and admits the cylindrical wall in the space of a part of cigarette at least.

10. the lighter that claim 9 proposed is characterized in that: when being inserted with cigarette in the wherein said lighter, between air permission inflow cylindrical wall and the cigarette.

11. claim 9 or 10 lighter that proposed is characterized in that: the wherein said device of air-flow that provides comprises that one or several passes the air flue of cylindrical wall.

12. the lighter that claim 11 proposed is characterized in that: wherein said one or several air flue is opened at close heater first end place.

13. the lighter that claim 11 proposed is characterized in that: wherein said one or several air flue is opened at close heater the second end place.

14. the lighter that claim 11 proposed is characterized in that: one group of distribution air flue that passes cylindrical wall is wherein arranged.

15. the lighter that claim 1 proposed is characterized in that each electric heating part comprises:

First end, the second end and one group are in the buckled zone that is used for increasing described heating member resistance between first end and the second end, described heating member is made with having the resistive material that is in first and second surfaces in the plane substantially, have total length L, overall width W and thickness T, effective electrical length of described heating member greater than the effective electric cross-sectional area of L then less than the product of W and T.

16. the lighter that claim 15 proposed is characterized in that: wherein said this group buckled zone comprises one group of interconnective S shape district.

17. the lighter that claim 16 proposed is characterized in that: described heating member comprises N interconnective S shape district, wherein N greater than 3 less than 12.

18. the lighter that claim 17 proposed is characterized in that: wherein N greater than 6 less than 10.

19. the lighter that any claim proposed in the claim 15 to 18 is characterized in that: the resistance of wherein said heating member is greatly in the scope in Europe, 0.8 Europe to 2.1.

20. the lighter that any claim proposed in the claim 15 to 19 is characterized in that: wherein said resistive material comprises a kind of at about 80% the stable material of temperature lower surface up to fusing point.

21. the lighter that any claim proposed in the claim 15 to 20 is characterized in that: wherein said resistive material comprises a kind of superalloy.

22. the lighter that claim 21 proposed is characterized in that: wherein said superalloy is based at least a material of selecting from the group that comprises nickel, iron and cobalt.

23. the lighter that any claim proposed in the claim 15 to 20 is characterized in that: wherein said resistive material is a kind of metallic compound.

24. the lighter that claim 23 proposed is characterized in that: wherein said resistive material comprises the anti-oxidation metal compound of the material of selecting a kind of group based at least a aluminide from the aluminide that comprises nickel and iron.

25. the lighter that claim 22 proposed is characterized in that: wherein said resistive material contains the aluminium that is higher than about 1%.

26. the lighter that any claim proposed in the claim 15 to 25 is characterized in that: the buckled zone group is all stretched out in wherein said first and second ends, and first and second ends and buckled zone group are formed by a single piece of material.

27. the lighter that any claim proposed in the claim 15 to 26 is characterized in that: the longitudinal centre line of wherein said first and second ends and buckled zone group is aimed at mutually.

28. the lighter that any claim proposed in the claim 15 to 27 is characterized in that: the transition region between transition region between wherein said first end and the buckled zone group and described the second end and the crooked group is all fallen bevel.

29. the lighter that any claim proposed in the claim 15 to 28 is characterized in that: the end curve of adjacency first and second ends of wherein said buckled zone group is towards same direction.