DESC:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally relates to an aerosol generating device. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a heater mount assembly and a mechanism of mounting the same in the aerosol generating device.

BACKGROUND
Electrically heated and not burnt, aerosol generating products are well known. These products comprise a tobacco and/or non-tobacco substrates and primarily involves a heating process, which is electrically operable, to generate aerosol. Unlike conventional cigarettes which are burnt; the electrically heated tobacco products do not involve burning and/or the pyrolysis process, instead they are heated.

Heater is one of the key components of the electrically heated, aerosol generating devices. Pin shaped or cylindrical heaters have a sharp/piercing tip/head at one end. However, while inserting the aerosol generating article onto the pin shaped heater, there is a possibility that the heater moves either horizontally or vertically from the aerosol generating device if the assembly is not right. Any such movement of the heater might cause severe damage to the aerosol generating article and/or the device itself. If the heater moves horizontally and comes close to the wrapping paper of the aerosol generating article, there is a risk of aerosol generating article, being burnt.

Another problem in the electrically heated aerosol generating device known in the arts, are the heaters are made with high thermal conductive materials. Due to their higher thermal conductivity, controlling the heat conduction to the outer surface of the device body, also becomes challenging.

To overcome such issues, existing devices use molded heaters or “snap fit”. This kind of “snap fit” is not found to suitable for multiple use and repairing and thus fails to provide a solution.

Further, there is a need to have a heater assembly mounting process, which is friendly to the user and can be easily assembled and maintained.

Thus, in view of the above drawbacks, (a) it is desirable to design a heater mount and mounting a pin shaped heater in such a way that addresses the above stated device reliability problems and (b) efficiently improves the device performance.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:
An object of the present invention is to provide a heater mount assembly and a mechanism to position the pin shaped heater in an upright position within the heating chamber.

An object of the present invention is to provide a heat spreader or heat sink, which prevents the heat dissipation to the outer part of the aerosol generating device.

An object of the invention is to provide a heater pin mounting mechanism which prevents short circuit in the heater pin terminals.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heater pin mechanism which is compact and less expensive.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a pin shaped heater for the aerosol generating device.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified format that is further described in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a heater mount assembly adapted to be used in an aerosol generating device (100), comprising:

a core type heater (200);
a two-part mounting means (203, 204) for mounting the said heater (200);
a plurality of heater pin terminals (201);
a heating chamber (101) to house the heater pin (200);
a heat spreader (301) is a metallic sheet that covers the core hater, the heater mount assembly and absorbs the heat transferring to the outer device body;
wherein said heater mount maintains the said heater (200) in an upright position in the heating chamber (101).

The present invention provides a compact heater mounting assembly which (a) keeps the heater in an upright position and prevents dislocation of the heater when the aerosol generating article is inserted (b) isolate the heater from directly touching any part of the device body (c) heat spreader / heat sink that reduces the transfer of the conductive heat from the heater to the outer surface of the device body (d) a heater mount design to segregate the terminal wires to prevent short circuit and to facilitate wire identification during assembling, (e) helps to identify the heater and sensor respective terminals while assembling – prevent any error during assembling.

In accordance with the purposes of the invention, the present invention as embodied and broadly described herein provides a mechanism for heater mount assembly in an aerosol generating device to restrict any movement that can be either horizontally and/or vertically of the heater within the heating chamber of the said device.

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a heater mount assembly comprising a two part molded plastic based mounting means where the first part holds the heater at the center of the heating chamber – prevents any horizontal movement whereas the second part (a back support) prevents any vertical movement of the heater.

The present invention in another aspect provides an aerosol generating device comprising the heater mount as disclosed herein.

The present invention in another aspect provides an aerosol generating device comprising the heater mount assembly which ensembles a heater and heater terminals.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
It is appreciated that the drawings provided in the present disclosure only illustrate application examples of the present disclosure and are therefore not to be construed as limiting its scope. The foregoing disclosure provides additional information with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings, which are listed below for quick reference.

Figure 1 Shows exploded and assembled view of the pin shaped heater assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 1(a) illustrates a core / pin shaped heater is made up of layers selected from a non-fired ceramic substrate and pre-fired ceramic substrate, coated with a high glass content laminating agent.

Figure 1(b) illustrates a pin shaped heater having atleast two segments to heat the aerosol generating substrate wherein said heater segments and their temperature are independently controllable.

Figure 2(a) illustrates a schematic view of the pin shaped heater mounted on the mounting means, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2(b) illustrates a schematic view of the pin shaped heater assembly partially inserted inside the heating chamber of the aerosol generating device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3(a) illustrates a schematic view of the fully inserted pin shaped heater assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3(b) illustrates a schematic view of the back support fitted and segregating the pin shaped heater terminals, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3(c) Shows the view of the heat spreader / heat sink of the device according to the present invention.

It may be noted that the one or more elements may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of the ordinary skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of the present disclosure are illustrated below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should be in no way limited to illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques, illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of equivalents.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially technical and/or scientific terms, used herein, may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinarily skilled in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments”. It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the foregoing claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the foregoing claims fulfill the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

The present invention provides a heater mount assembly adapted to be used in an aerosol generating device (100), comprising:

a core type heater (200);
a two-part mounting means (203, 204) for mounting the said heater (200);
a plurality of heater pin terminals (201);
a heating chamber (101) to house the heater pin (200);
a heat spreader (301) is a metallic sheet that covers the core hater, the heater mount assembly and absorbs the heat transferring to the outer device body;
wherein said heater mount maintains the said heater (200) in an upright position in the heating chamber (101).

The present disclosure shows (Figure 1) the exploded and assembled view of the heater mount assembly including the heater (200), heater pin terminals (201) and the first part of mounting means (204). The heater pin has a plurality of pin terminals at its back end and the heater pin is mounted on the first part of the mounting means (204) which is made of high temperature resistive and low thermal conductive material which prevents the heat conduction to the outer body of the aerosol generating device, chassis (100). Briefly, the heating chamber (101) is a part of the device, “the chassis” (100) which also holds the controlling circuit, battery, switch and other assembly related components.

The said heater mount assembly is a two-part assembly (203, 204) that holds the heater in an upright position and prevents any further dislocation from the heater mount. The heater mount comprises a first part of the heating mount means (204) and a second part of the mounting means (a back support (203)). The second part of the mounting means also segregates the heater pin terminals (201) into different sets to avoid short circuit of the respective terminals. It segregates the four terminal pins in the set of two to avoid contact of the terminals which may lead to short circuits.

The heater can be either inserted inside the aerosol generating article (core heater) or the aerosol generating article can be inside the heater (periphery heater) and a combination of both. The present invention concerns the core heater and heating mount for any kind of aerosol generating device. The core heaters, by design, radiate heat outwardly across the length of the aerosol generating article to generate aerosol.

In another implementation, the present disclosure provide an improved pin shaped heater wherein the pin shaped heater is made either by directly printing the heating and sensing tracks on a pre-fired low thermal conductive (less than 10 W/m-K) ceramic material or by wrapping a pre-printed non-fired and low thermal conductive (less than 10 W/m-K) ceramic tape on a pre-fired ceramic rod with the help of a suitable laminating agent. The suitable laminating agent is a higher glass containing laminating agent. The non-fired ceramic tape of the pin shaped heater at least 50 microns in thickness.

The pin shaped heater (200) is made of a low thermal conductive pre-fired ceramic and wrapped with a low thermal conductive, non-fired ceramic tape with the help of a high glass containing laminating agent. In an embodiment the pin shaped heater is a non-fired Yttria stabilized Zirconia having thermal conductivity less than 5 W/m-K has been used to wrap around a pre-fired Yttria stabilized ceramic pin with the help of high glass containing paste as laminating agent. The heater (200), sensor, conduction tracks (figure 1(a) and 1(b)) can be printed with suitable printing paste on the non-fired ceramic tape. The ceramic tape can be one or more than one laminated together before wrapping around the pre-fired ceramic rod. The non-fired ceramic tape is at least 50 micron thickness and the printed tracks are at least 8 micron in thickness while printing. The printed tracks are at least 8 microns in thickness.

The present invention also discloses the printing (figure 1(a), 1(b)) of the heater (200), sensing, conduction and other tracks directly on the pre-fired ceramic pin with the help of suitable printing machine which directly deposited the required thickness of the printing paste on the pre-fired ceramic rod.

As illustrated in figure 2(a) discloses the heater mount assembly (203, 204), ensembles the pin heater (200) and the heater terminals (201). Further as illustrated in figure 2(b), the aerosol generating device, the chassis (100), is extended to hold the heating chamber (101) which ensembles the two-part heater mount assembly (203, 204), wherein said heater mount (203, 204) holds the pin shaped heater (200) in an upright position. Further the heater terminal (201) extends out from the base of the heater mount (203, 204).

In one implementation, the present disclosure provides a mounting means made of high temperature resistant and low thermal conductive moldable plastic material to avoid heat dissipation to the outer body of the aerosol generating device.

As shown in figure 3(a), 3(b) the aerosol generating device, the chassis (100) extends to hold the heating chamber (101), and further the two-part heater mount (203, 204) is shown distinctly.

A high thermal conductive metal jacket which is the heat spreader/heat sink (301), extends on the surface of the said device (100) both shown in figure 3(c). This metal jacket/metallic sheet (301) absorbs the dissipated heat and transfers the heat to the lower temperature areas to prevent hot spots.
,CLAIMS:1. A heater mount assembly adapted to be used in an aerosol generating device (100), comprising:
a core type heater (200);
a two-part mounting means (203, 204) for mounting the said heater (200);
a plurality of heater pin terminals (201);
a heating chamber (101) for heating the heater pin (200);
a heat spreader (301) is a metallic sheet that covers the core hater, the heater mount assembly and absorbs the heat transferring to the outer device body;
wherein said heater mount maintains the said heater (200) in an upright position in the heating chamber (101).

2. The heater mount assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the core type heater is a pin shaped heater (200).

3. The heater mount assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two-part mounting means comprises a first part (204) that holds the heater at the center of the heating chamber (101) and a second part (203) that provides the back support and, holds the heater firmly.

4. The heater mount assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first part (204) and second part (203) are made of high temperature resistant and low thermal conductive moldable materials.

5. The heater mount assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heater (200), is made of low thermal conductive ceramic material preferably having thermal conductivity less than 10 W/m-K and the heater is made by directly printing the heating and sensing tracks by depositing the suitable printing paste on a pre-fired low thermal conductive ceramic rod.

6. The heater mount assembly as claimed in claim 5, the said heater (200) is made of non-fired ceramic tape and a pre-fired ceramic rod.

7. The heater mount assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the non-fired ceramic tape and the pre-fired ceramic rod are wrapped with at least one printed ceramic tape and higher glass containing laminating agent.

8. The heater mount assembly as claimed in claim 1, the said heater (200), comprises at least two heating segment(s) and their temperatures can be independently controllable.

9. The heater (200) as claimed in claim 5 and 7, wherein the non-fired ceramic tape of the pin shaped heater at least 50 microns in thickness and the printed tracks are at least 8 microns in thickness.

10. The heater mount assembly as claimed in claim 1 and claim 3 wherein the second part (203) is adapted to segregate the plurality of heater pin terminals (201) into sets to avoid short circuit of the respective terminals.

11. An aerosol generating device comprising a heater mount as claimed in the preceding claims.