Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a testing apparatus for collecting particles present in the smoke or vapor produced by a smoking ora vaping item such as a cigarette or a vaping device. The invention applies to any vaping devices, in particular to e-cigarettes (where an e-liquid is heated to produce a vapor to be inhaled) and to heated tobacco vapor devices (where a solid substance such as a tobacco-containing solid stick is heated though not burnt to produce a vapor to be inhaled).

The aim of these testing apparatuses is to collect particles present in the smoke/vapor produced by a smoking/vaping device in order afterwards to analyze these particles, for example to determine the quantity of nicotine in the smoke or vapor which is delivered to a user during smoking or vaping the item in test. Background of the invention

Testing apparatuses are known, such as the ones disclosed by CN 103940602, CN 104266870 or GB2574607.

The prior apparatuses usually comprise a mouthpiece for receiving the tip of a smoking or vaping item to be tested, a smoking machine for generating a suction flow simulating a puffing action by a human user on the smoking/vaping item, a filter arranged in a filter holder immediately downstream the tip of the smoking/vaping item, for collecting the particles present in the smoke/vapor delivered by the smoking/vaping item under the puffing action.

The filter is usually a current Cambridge filter of 44mm diameter. The particles collected by the Cambridge filter are next analyzed using various known methods such as chromatography for example. Known testing apparatuses cover an overall aerosol collected mass (ACM) or total particulate matter (TPM) collection, without being able to distinguish between the particles which will be absorbed in the user’s mouth and those which will be delivered to the user’s lungs. Indeed, when a human being is smoking or vaping, bigger drops get absorbed in the mouth while smaller drops get into the lungs. The particles absorbed in the mouth are relevant for taste, whereas the particles absorbed in the lungs transport deliverables such as Nicotine. Therefore, it would be very helpful to separate those two kinds of particles in testing apparatuses. The invention aims to solve this problem by providing an apparatus able to separate, in the smoke/vapor delivered by a smoking/vaping item to be tested, the particles which are likely to be absorbed in the mouth from the particles which are likely to reach the lungs when the smoking/vaping item in test is smoked/vaped by a human being. Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a testing apparatus for collecting particles in a vapor or smoke delivered by vaping or smoking devices, the testing apparatus comprising:

- a mouthpiece for receiving the tip of a vaping/smoking item to be tested, - a smoking machine for generating a suction flow simulating a puffing action by a user on the vaping/smoking item to be tested, the suction flow thus containing a vapor or smoke delivered by the vaping/smoking item to be tested under the action the smoking machine,

- a main particles filter arranged downstream the mouthpiece, for collecting particles present in the suction flow.

In the whole description, the terms “downstream” and upstream” refer to the direction of circulation of the suction flow. The testing apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that it further comprises a chamber, arranged between the mouthpiece and the main filter, the chamber being delimited by a peripheral wall, which forms top, bottom and sides faces, and which is lined, at least at said bottom face, by a collector for collecting particles dropping from the suction flow in the chamber before reaching the main particles filter, the collector and/or faces of the chamber delimiting an empty cavity in the chamber.

It is to be noted that the term “empty” used for specifying the cavity in the chamber does not refer to the pressure in the cavity; it does not mean, for example, that the pressure in the cavity is actively maintained well under the atmospheric pressure. The term “empty” merely means that the cavity is devoid of any piece or material or substance obstructing (even partially) or filtering the suction flow; by contrast, of course, since it is crossed by the suction flow, the cavity contains gas (air) and particles coming from the item in test. According to the invention, the main particles filter is thus arranged downstream a collector at least partially surrounding a cavity in a chamber. The main particles filter may be arranged at an output end of the chamber, immediately downstream the collector, within the peripheral wall delimiting the chamber but at the end thereof. Alternatively, the main particle filter may be arranged in a specific holder added downstream the peripheral wall of the chamber. The first variant is preferred for its simplicity, compactness and reduced manufacturing costs. The second variant makes it possible to insert additional element(s) between the collector (or the chamber) and the main particles filter, such as diversion pipe, sensor, etc. for various purposes. The peripheral wall of the chamber may be formed by a single continued wall that defines the above-mentioned top, bottom and side faces; this peripheral wall might be cylindrical with a circular section or any other section (such as a squared section for example). Alternatively, the peripheral wall may be formed by a plurality of assembled walls including a top wall, a bottom wall and sidewalls. According to a possible feature, the main particles filter is a glass fiber filter, such as a 44mm Cambridge filter.

According to a possible feature, the collector is also a glass fiber filter. Alternatively, the collector is a layer of an absorbent material.

According to a possible feature, the collector extends along the entire peripheral wall of the chamber, that is to say not only at the bottom face of the chamber but also at the top and sides faces thereof.

According to a possible feature, the collector is a cylindrical filter or a cylindrical absorbent sleeve.

According to a possible feature, the cylindrical filter or absorbent sleeve that forms the collector has an open input end facing and surrounding the mouthpiece, and/or an opposite open output end opening in front of the main particles filter.

According to a possible feature, the testing apparatus further comprises a gas collector between the main particles filter and the smoking machine. This gas collector may comprise a container and a trapping liquid inside the container.

According to a possible feature, the smoking machine comprises a programmable syringe configured to provide calibrated puffs.

In a possible embodiment, the chamber comprises a housing comprising:

- the above-defined peripheral wall, - an input flange, which includes the mouthpiece at a central area, the input flange further having a peripheral fastening clamp configured for securing the input flange to the peripheral wall,

- and an output flange, which has a central aperture connected to the smoking machine, the output flange further having a peripheral fastening clamp configured for securing the output flange to the peripheral wall of the chamber.

Preferably, the peripheral fastening clamp of the output flange is also configured for holding the main particles filter, in front of the central aperture. Thus, the testing apparatus is very simple and compact; it has a limited number of pieces, as well as limited manufacturing costs. In this preferred embodiment where the main particles filter is hold by the output flange of the chamber, it is to be noted that the main particles filter may be located just upstream the output flange, that is to say within the housing of the chamber but at the end thereof, or just downstream the output flange that is to say outside the housing of the chamber.

In case where the main particles filter is arranged within the housing of the chamber, just upstream the output flange, said output flange may include a hollow neck delimiting the central aperture, this hollow neck protruding from the output end of the peripheral wall of the chamber and being configured for connecting the output flange to a mouth end of the smoking machine. Here again, such a testing apparatus is particularly compact and simple. According to a possible feature, the smoking machine comprises a programmable syringe configured to provide calibrated puffs.

According to a possible feature, the testing apparatus further comprises a main analyzing unit for analyzing particles collected by the main particles filter and a mouth analyzing unit for analyzing particles collected by the mouth collector. These two units may share common elements that can be successively used in connection with the particles collected by the main filter and with particles collected by the mouth collector.

Nevertheless, for better ergonomics and ease of use, the particles are preferably analyzed in separated devices and the testing apparatus is devoid of analyzing unit.

Additional measurements can be carried out within the chamber. To this end, according to a possible feature, the chamber includes at least one measurement device, such as light scattering detectors associated with incident light beam emitters, thermal probes, various sensors, etc. Brief description of the drawings

Other particularities and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the following description. In the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, the single figure is a schematic representation of a testing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, some parts of the apparatus being represented in longitudinal cross-section, other parts being represented in side view or by mere blocs.

Detailed Description

The annexed figure shows an embodiment of a testing apparatus according to the invention, for analyzing the smoke/vapor of a smoking/vaping item 100. This testing apparatus comprises, from the left side to the right side of the figure:

- a mouthpiece 2 configured for receiving the tip of the smoking/vaping item 100,

- a chamber 7, which includes a peripheral wall 12 at least partially lined with a collector 10 able to catch particles present in the smoke/vapor delivered by the smoking/vaping item 100, the collector 10 delimiting an empty cavity 8, the chamber 7 and the cavity 8 being hereafter often called the “mouth-simulating chamber” and the “mouth-simulating cavity” respectively, whereas the collector 10 is called “the mouth collector”, - a main particles filter 4 here after often referred to as the lungs-simulating filter,

- and a smoking machine 6.

The smoking machine 6 is configured to generate a suction flow running from the left side to the right side of the figure and simulating a puffing action of a human user on the smoking/vaping item 100. In other words, this suction flow is calibrated to induces the generation of a smoke/vapor in the smoking/vaping item 100, in a way equivalent to a puffing action of a user at the tip of the smoking/vaping item 100. Otherwise said, the smoking machine is calibrated to create a depression or a flow rate at the mouthpiece 2 of the apparatus equivalent to the depression or flow rate created by a user at his lips by puffing while smoking/vaping.

The smoke/vapor generated in the smoking/vaping item 100 under the action of the smoking machine crosses the mouth-simulating chamber 7, next the lungs-simulating filter 4 before entering the smoking machine 6.

The mouthpiece 2 is arranged at or upstream an input end of the mouth-simulating chamber 8, whereas the lungs-simulating filter 4 is arranged at or downstream an output end of the mouth-simulating chamber 7.

The chamber according to the invention is provided to simulate the mouth of an adult human being, with a collector provided to collect the particles which would be also collected in a human mouth, the collector simulating the tongue of the human being if limited to a bottom face of the chamber, the collector simulating not only the tongue but also the palate and the interior of the cheeks of the human being if it lines the entire peripheral wall of the chamber (i.e. if the collector entirely surrounds the empty cavity 8 of the chamber).

To this end, the empty cavity 8 (in the chamber 7) may have a volume, and eventually a shape and/or length and/or diameter, which is/are similar as that of an adult human mouth, such as to simulate the interior of the mouth of an adult human being and to collect particles which would be also collected in an adult human mouth. By way of example, the volume of the cavity 7 may correspond to the mean oral cavity proper volume of an adult human being, which would be of about 4.40 cm ³ according to the study published at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.qov/pmc/articles/PMC5996000/.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mouth-simulating cavity 8 is delimited by a lined housing comprising a cylindrical peripheral wall 12, an input flange 14 and an output flange 16. The peripheral wall 12 may have any cross sectional shape that allows a relatively constant cross sectional airflow, for example, round, square, oval or polygonal. In the annexed figure, a peripheral wall 12 that is cylindrical with a circular cross section is shown by way of example.

The mouthpiece 2 is formed by a hole provided at the center of the input flange 14; this hole should be small enough to provide a tight connection with the tip of the smoking/vaping item 100. This hole may be surrounded by a sleeve (for example a rubber sleeve, not represented) configured to help maintaining the smoking/vaping item 100 in a testing position (with the tip of the item inside the mouthpiece 2) as illustrated.

The mouth collector 10 may be a filter or an absorbent sleeve. A filter as such is not necessary for collecting the particles that drop in the mouth-simulating cavity 8. Indeed, any absorbent or catching liner able to collect the particles can be used, as soon as the absorbent liner allows afterwards for the absorbed particles to be extracted for subsequent chemical analysis.

The mouth collector 10 may extend on the entire inner surface of the peripheral wall 12 as illustrated. In that way, it should catch all the particles that would normally be absorbed by the user’s mouth, not only at his tongue but also at his entire palate. The mouth collector may also line the input flange 14 except for the mouthpiece 2. In one embodiment, the mouth collector 10 may be attached to the inner face of the peripheral wall 12 with connecting means, for example mechanical means like clips or hooks, or adhesive means like glue (for example a low tack glue) or a double side tape. This is in particular beneficial if the mouth collector 10 is made of a flexible material that will flex under gravity when installed without connection means so that the suction airflow would be negatively impacted when the collector 10 is deforming under gravity. Preferably, the mouth collector 10 is made out of a single piece to improve its installation and removal on/from the inner face of the peripheral wall 12. Alternatively, the mouth collector may be made up of multiple pieces (covering different sections of the peripheral wall 12). The mouth collector 10 may also be composed of a multilayer structure.

Preferably, the mouth collector 10 should follows closely the inside contour of the peripheral wall 12 when installed in the mouth-simulating chamber 7. In case that the cross section of the wall 12 has pronounced corners, like for instance with a square or polygonal cross section, the mouth collector does not need to follow the wall closely in the corner sections. Here, the mouth collector 10 may be installed curving in the corner, where the mouth collector 10 does not touch the inside of the corner. For consistent measurements, the mouth collector 10 is preferably adapted to be easily installed in a repeatable way, i.e. always in the same position.

Nevertheless, a mouth collector limited to a bottom part of the peripheral wall 12 is also consistent with the invention.

The main particles filter 4 is arranged downstream the mouth collector 10, in order to simulate the lungs of the user. It is preferably arranged orthogonally to the suction flow generated by the smoking machine.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lungs-simulating filter 4 is arranged within the housing of the mouth-simulating chamber 7, at the output end of the mouth-simulating chamber, and is hold by the output flange 16. Alternatively, a further piece or assembly may be provided between the output flange 16 and the smoking machine 6 to accommodate and hold the lungs-simulating filter 4. In this variant, the mouth collector 10 might also line the output flange 16 of the mouth-simulating chamber, except for a central area with an aperture 22 simulating the entry of the user’s trachea such that the particles in the vapor/smoke that are likely to get into the lungs are not caught by the mouth collector Further to the mouthpiece 2 at its center, the input flange 14 also comprises a peripheral clamp 18 for fastening the flange to the peripheral wall 12; this fastening may be achieved by any appropriate means such as the provision of corresponding threads on the peripheral wall and the peripheral clamp or an elastic deformation of the peripheral clamp such that the peripheral clamp 18 comes to grip the peripheral wall 12, etc.

Likewise, the output flange 16 comprises a peripheral clamp 20 for its fastening to the peripheral wall 12. This peripheral clamp 20 of the output flange has an internal groove and/or a dimension along the axial direction of the mouth-simulating chamber (that is also the direction of the suction flow) which is long enough to accommodate the lungs-simulating filter 4.

The output flange 16 further has a central aperture 22 for the passage of the suction flow generated by the smoking machine 6. In the illustrated embodiment, this aperture is made in a hollow neck 24, which is a part of the output flange 16. This hollow neck 22 protrudes axially from the output end of the peripheral wall 12 in direction of the smoking machine for securing the output flange 16 to a mouth end 26 of the smoking machine. This gives an apparatus that is particularly compact and simple.

As an option, a gas collector may be inserted between the lungs-simulating filter 4 and the smoking machine 6, where the volatile gases present in the smoke/vapor generated by the smoking/vaping item 100 are absorbed in a liquid trap. Such a gas collector is well known from the person skilled in the art and will not be described in details here.

List of references: 2 mouthpiece

4 main particles filter

6 smoking machine

7 chamber 8 empty cavity in the chamber 10 collector

12 peripheral wall of the chamber 14 input flange of the chamber 16 output flange of the chamber

18 peripheral clamp of the input flange 20 peripheral clamp of the output flange 22 central aperture in the output flange 24 hollow neck of output flange 26 mouth end of the smoking machine