Tobacco – Smoke separator or treater – By adding constituent to smoke stream
Patent
1996-06-06
1998-04-14
Millin, Vincent
Tobacco
Smoke separator or treater
By adding constituent to smoke stream
131336, 131337, 131341, 1311981, 1311982, A24D 306
Patent
active
057381208
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to smoking articles and particularly but not exclusively to filter cigarettes.
Smokers of cigarettes have varying tastes and preferences. Within the population of smokers there are various groups such as those who prefer low tar and those who prefer higher tar. They all choose their particular brands and smoke them as they wish. There are, however, extreme cases such as those who buy one brand of filter cigarette but prior to smoking detach the filter. Others smoke low tar cigarettes but in an unusual fashion in that the filter is placed well into the mouth thereby blocking the vents with the lips. Others prefer middle tar cigarettes and may only smoke the first half.
Cigarettes ate commonly ranked according to their tar delivery which is evaluated by machine smoking at predetermined puff volume, duration of puff and interval between puffs. Smokers, however, perform their habit as they please and a cigarette that does not readily conform to their smoking pattern is deemed poor whilst a cigarette that conforms to their wishes is satisfying.
According to the present invention there is provided a smoking article comprising a smokable rod and ventilation means whereby, in use, the puffing characteristics of the smoker determine the amount of ventilation given by the ventilation means, the ventilation means being initially closed or partially closed by a viscous fluid.
It will be appreciated that the term `viscous fluid` not only includes liquids but also materials that are "plastic" in that they are deformable or displaceable by means of a pressure differential without returning to their original shape after the pressure differential is removed. The term, therefore, includes gels, petroleum jellies, grease etc.
The ventilation means may be incorporated into a filter. The filter may have conventional ventilization besides the ventilation means described. The ventilation means when acted upon during puffing reacts and continues to react during subsequent puffs in a manner dependent upon the puffing characteristics employed until it intervenes enabling an increase in ventilation.
The ventilation means preferably continues to react to the puffing whereby the ventilation continues to increase towards a maximum. The smoking article has an inherent lower delivery not manifest at the start of smoking. This manifestation is realised once the smoker has exerted sufficient demands upon the smoking article and his want is somewhat satiated.
Commonly the ventilation means will include a system of vents in the periphery of the filter.
In one arrangement the viscous fluid disposed in one or more tubes, said one or more vents communicating only with said one or more tubes. Conveniently said one or more tubes have ends of wider bore towards the air entry end to prevent capillary loss of the viscous fluid.
In another arrangement the viscous fluid is disposed in one or more channels located in the periphery of the ventilation means, said one or more vents communicating only with said one or more channels.
The tubes or channels may have varying cross-sections along their longitudinal axis.
Means may be provided around the fluid exit end of the channels or tubes to assist the removal of viscous fluid, This removal means may comprise an absorbent material, tube, or tubes, slit or slits to wick away the fluid. The tubes may be concentric, in line or at an angle to the fluid tube.
The removal means is so positioned such that capillary loss by surface tension does not operate until the viscous fluid has been expressed by the action of puffing.
In a further arrangement the viscous liquid is disposed in an open ended tube which has a smaller internal cross sectional area towards the air entry end. Preferably the tube is conical.
Preferably the viscous fluid in the channels or tubes has a viscosity of between 0.01 Poise and 1000 Poise (0.01 Stokes and 1000 Stokes). One suitable fluid is glycerol and others includes syrups like sugar in water as well as vegetable and mineral oils. The channels or tubes may also cont
REFERENCES:
patent: 4898190 (1990-02-01), Deal
patent: 4904308 (1990-02-01), Charlton et al.
patent: 5331981 (1994-07-01), Tamaoki et al.
Imperial Tobacco Limited
Millin Vincent
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