Abstract:
A method and apparatus for detecting, locating, isolating and controlling variations in the manufacturing process by transient thermography. A heat source (200) imparts heat to a surface which is radiated in the infrared region. Infrared sensors (204, 206, 208, 210) are coupled to a processor which tracks the physical characteristics of the sample, and provides feedback to a central process controller to make adjustments to the manufacturing process. The sample can be a continuous product such as a green powder metal sheet or tobacco product.
Abstract:
An electrical smoking system (21) comprising a cigarette (23) and an electric lighter (25), wherein the cigarette (23) comprises a tubular tobacco mat (66) partially filled with material tobacco (80) so as to define a filled tobacco rod portion (60) and an unfilled tobacco rod portion (90). The cigarette (23) and the lighter (25) are mutually arranged so that when the cigarette (23) is received in the lighter (25), the electrical heater element (37) of the lighter (25) at least partially superposes at least a portion of the filled tobacco rod portion (60). The cigarette (23) and the lighter (25) are also mutually arranged so that when the cigarette (23) is received in the lighter (25), the free end (15) of the cigarette (23) is occluded. The cigarette (23) includes a zone of perforations (12, 14) at a location along the filled tobacco rod portion (60), with the cigarette being free of perforations along the unfilled tobacco rod portion (90).
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for detecting, locating, isolating and controlling variations in the manufacturing process by transient thermography. A heat source (200) imparts heat to a surface which is radiated in the infrared region. Infrared sensors (204, 206, 208, 210) are coupled to a processor which tracks the physical characteristics of the sample, and provides feedback to a central process controller to make adjustments to the manufacturing process. The sample can be a continuous product such as a green powder metal sheet or tobacco product.
Abstract:
A piezoelectrically driven pump includes a chamber (216) having two opposite side walls (212, 220) formed by flexible membranes (206, 214), and an inlet (224) and an outlet (218) each regulated by a valve (222, 220). Separate piezo elements (202, 204, 232, 234) are fixed to each of the membranes (206, 214), to flex the membranes and increase/reduce the chamber volume and thereby inducing pumping. The valves (222, 220) are each formed by two adjacent piezo elements (542, 550), supported and flexibly joined together at two opposite ends. When actuated, the valve piezo elements (542, 550) flex outward between the two opposite ends, opening the valve (222, 220) to form an aperture between the two piezo elements (542, 550). In another embodiment, a fluid pump includes a chamber having one flexible membrane sidewall. A valve-regulated inlet or outlet aperture through the membrane communicates with the pump chamber. A ring- shaped piezo centered around the aperture, on the membrane, flexes the membrane.
Abstract:
A miniature heat source (12) capable of being used in a hand-held device for delivering a metered pulse of fuel to a combustion chamber where it is converted into a pulsed amount of heat. For example, the heat source apparatus (12) can be used in a hand-held cigarette smoking system (120) or within a portable device wherein a microturbine (70) generates electricity, as well as any type of environment where a high energy pulse of heat is used. The heat source includes a valve (34) such as a sliding (32), rotatable or timed valve which delivers a metered volume of fuel to the combustion chamber. The valve can deliver the fuel, in an expanded gaseous form, to a venturi conduit (50) which increases the velocity of the gas flow, and delivers the fuel to a combustion camber (26) where the gas is mixed with air. The combustion mixture is then combusted within the consistent, controlled and pulsed amount of heat with a higher energy capacity as compared to battery powered heat sources.
Abstract:
An electrical smoking system comprising a cigarette and an electric lighter, wherein the cigarette comprises a tubular tobacco mat partially filled with material tobacco so as to define a filled tobacco rod portion and an unfilled tobacco rod portion. The cigarette and the lighter are mutually arranged so that when the cigarette is received in the lighter, the electrical heater element of the lighter at least partially superposes at least a portion of the filled tobacco rod portion. The cigarette and the lighter are also mutually arranged so that when the cigarette is received in the lighter, the free end of the cigarette is occluded. The cigarette includes a zone of perforations at a location along the filled tobacco rod portion, with the cigarette being free of perforations along the unfilled tobacco rod portion. An apparatus for perforating a cigarette which can be smoked in an electrical smoking device includes a drum link-up assembly and a laser perforating apparatus. The apparatus can be used in a method of perforating a tobacco rod of the cigarette prior to assembly of the tobacco rod to a filter rod via tipping paper. In the method, a tobacco rod is supplied to the drum link-up assembly wherein the tobacco rod is moved from a combining apparatus to a tipping apparatus which attaches the tobacco rod to a filter rod by tipping paper. In making the cigarettes with a tobacco rod and a filter rod, a combining apparatus forms a continuous tobacco rod which is cut into 2-up tobacco rods.
Abstract:
Sistemul de fumat include o ţigară detaşabilă care conţine material aromat de tutun şi care este supusă încălzirii cu ajutorul unor elemente electrice de încălzire în brichetă, eliminând fum de tutun aromat sau alte substanţe în formă de aburi sau aerosol furnizate către fumător. Ţigara şi bricheta creează în sistemul de fumat curenţi de aer care trec de-a curmezişul ţigării, micşorând astfel condensarea aburilor reziduali şi/sau a aerosolului în interiorul sistemului de fumat.
Abstract:
A smoking article in which a flavored aerosol is generated by heat transfer to a flavor bed (21) from the combustion of a carbon heat source (20) is provided. The article generates substantially no sidestream smoke. The transfer of heat from the heat source to the flavor bed is accomplished by convective and radiative heat transfer.
Abstract:
An electrical smoking article is provided in which tobacco flavor medium is carried past a heater by a continuous web. The web, which preferably is substantially non-combustible, may bear continuous tobacco flavor medium or spaced-apart portions of tobacco flavor medium. A flavor cassette for such an electrical smoking article is also provided. The cassette resembles a conventional recording tape microcassette, having the web in place of magnetic tape. The cassette may also include the heater past which the tape is indexed to heat individual portions of tobacco flavor medium.