EP1128743A1

EP1128743A1 - System for supplying an inhalable aerosol

Info

Publication number: EP1128743A1
Application number: EP99972075A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wolfgang Wildenau
Original assignee: HF and PhF Reemtsma GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH
Priority date: 1998-11-12
Filing date: 1999-11-08
Publication date: 2001-09-05
Also published as: DE19854009C2; HK1053409A1; WO2000028842A1; PL348205A1; AU1160000A; KR20010089445A; EA002583B1; JP2002529111A; CN1333657A; CZ20011659A3; EA200100532A1; HRP20010334A2; BG105505A; HUP0104222A2; SK6402001A3; DE19854009A1

Abstract

A system for supplying an inhalable aerosol contains an inhaling device (10) which has a rod-shaped housing (12) with a rear, mouth-end area (16) and a front area (14). A substrate holder (26), which can be heated by a heating device (30, 38, 44, 50), is situated in the front area (14) of the housing (12) and is accessible via a loading opening (24) that is preferably located at the front end (23) of the housing (12). A flow channel (34) leads from the substrate holder (26) to the rear end of the housing (12). The heating device (30, 38, 44, 50) is configured for generating heat by thermal or catalytic combustion. A substrate portion (1) that is configured for introducing into the substrate holder (26) through the loading opening (24) contains aerosol-forming material inside a casing which has an air inlet and an aerosol outlet.

Description

Inhalable aerosol delivery system

The invention relates to a system for providing an inhalable aerosol and components of such a system. This system is particularly suitable as a smoking article for providing smoke aerosol for smokers.

When conventional cigarettes are smoked, most of the tobacco is not burned during the trains, but during breaks. This leads to the formation of the so-called sidestream smoke, which is often perceived as nuisance by non-smokers.

Numerous new smoking articles have been proposed to overcome this problem. A common principle of such developments is that it is not the heat of combustion of the tobacco but other energy sources that are used to release the smoke aerosol. This largely avoids the creation of sidestream smoke. In the proposed smoking articles for aerosol formation, substitute materials such as special film tobacco or carrier materials loaded with aroma substances are frequently used instead of tobacco.

For example, US Patents 5,060,666, 5,067,499 and 5,099,861 describe cigarette-like smoking articles in which the heat Energy of a smoldering carbon element is transferred to aerosol-forming material that contains flavors and an aerosol-forming agent such as glycerin in addition to tobacco or tobacco extracts. The combustion gases of the heating element are inhaled with the smoke aerosol, which leads to an increased absorption of carbon monoxide by the smoker. Furthermore, the entire smoking article must be disposed of after smoking, which results in an increased accumulation of residues of complex composition and associated disposal problems.

Devices are also known in which a portion of the substrate is heated by means of electrical energy in order to release smoke aerosol. Such a device, which must be hand-held and is not portable in the mouth because of its size and weight, is described in U.S. Patent 4,141,369. Further cigarette-like smoking articles in which special tobacco flavor substrates are electrically heated by means of battery power and thereby give an inhalable aerosol are disclosed in US Patents 5,095,921, 5,179,666 and 5,269,327. U.S. Patent 5,499,636 shows a cigarette for an electrically heated smoking system. However, all of these devices are relatively heavy and bulky.

From U.S. patent 4,474,181 smoking devices are known in which nicotine and tobacco simulating substances are indirectly, e.g. over flammable cellulose foams, warmed and inhaled.

WO 97/48294 shows a further system for providing an inhalable aerosol. A burner and a heating medium tank, which contains a heating medium for operating the burner, are located in a housing to be held in the hand. The rising, hot combustion gases flow through a heat exchanger in which ventilation ducts are arranged. The ventilation ducts are connected to the outside air at one end and open at the other end into a tubular flow duct which extends from the upper region of the housing and which is connected to the latter free end is designed as a mouthpiece. The middle section of the flow channel is occupied by a portion of substrate which is indirectly heated by the air drawn in by the user and heated by the heat exchanger in order to release aerosol. This system is also relatively heavy and unwieldy and must be opened in order to use a new portion of substrate.

It is an object of the invention to provide a light, handy and portable system for providing an inhalable aerosol which contains a reusable inhaler and which can serve, in particular, as a smoking article which offers a taste impression similar to that of conventional cigarettes when used however, no sidestream smoke is generated between trains.

This object is achieved by a system with the features of claim 1, which has an inhalation device with the features of claim 26 and a portion of substrate with the features of claim 28. Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

The system according to the invention for providing an inhalable aerosol has an inhalation device which has a rod-like housing with a rear area on the mouth side and a front area. In the front area of the housing there is a substrate holder which can be heated by a heating device and which is accessible via a loading opening which is preferably located on the front of the housing. A flow channel leads from the substrate holder to the rear end of the housing. The heating device is designed to generate heat by thermal or catalytic combustion, a heating medium tank preferably being arranged in the rear region of the housing. The system also contains a substrate portion which is set up for insertion into the substrate holder through the loading opening and which is within a Enclosure, which has an air inlet opening and an aerosol outlet opening, contains aerosol-forming material.

Since the energy required for heating the aerosol is taken from a gaseous and / or liquid heating medium, an inexpensive and easily procured energy carrier with a high energy density is available. Therefore, the inhaler, even if it contains a full heating medium tank, can be so light and handy that it can be easily carried by a user in the mouth. The rod-like housing lies comfortably in the hand and gives the user the feeling of smoking a cigarette with a cigarette holder or a cigar. The substrate portion is inserted into the heatable substrate holder in the front area of the rod-like housing, specifically via a loading opening, which is preferably located on the front of the housing. This reinforces the impression of using a cigar or cigarette with a cigarette holder. The substrate portion is heated via the heatable substrate holder in order to release inhalable aerosol, which is led via the flow channel to the rear end of the housing.

In the rear area of the housing, the inhalation device can have a mouthpiece which is connected to the flow channel and is preferably poorly heat-conducting, so that the user does not experience uncomfortably high temperatures. Instead of the mouthpiece, it is conceivable to use a filter designed as a filter mouthpiece in the rear region of the housing in the flow channel. In one variant, a filter can be inserted at another point in the flow channel; such a configuration can also be used in connection with a fixed mouthpiece.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate holder of the inhalation device has at least one heating surface, which is preferably hollow cylindrical or channel-like. The sub strathalterung can for example have two heating surfaces arranged parallel to each other, the mutual distance between which is preferably adjustable. It is conceivable for the distance to be set automatically as a function of the temperature, for example with the aid of a bimetal rail. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate holder of the inhalation device has, within the heating surfaces, a well heat-conducting jacket, preferably provided with bores, which is designed to lie against a portion of the substrate inserted into the substrate holder. These embodiments ensure good thermal contact (either directly via the heating surfaces or via the heat-conducting jacket) between the heating surfaces and the zone of the substrate portion which is located in the area of the heating surfaces. The heating surfaces or the jacket do not have to directly touch the substrate portion; Embodiments in which there is a distance from the substrate portion and the heat is transported, for example by radiation, are also conceivable.

The substrate holder of the inhalation device preferably has a rear cavity behind the heating surfaces, into which the rear area of a substrate portion inserted can be inserted. This configuration allows the user to partially heat a portion of the substrate and inhale the released aerosol. He gradually pushes the substrate portion backwards, preferably after each pull, a little further, the used portion of the substrate portion being absorbed by the rear cavity until the entire substrate portion is used up (smoked). In order to prevent the substrate portion from being inserted too far into the housing of the inhalation device, a stop for the substrate portion can be provided at the rear end of the rear cavity.

In a preferred embodiment, the heating surfaces of the inhalation device are set up by catalytic

Combustion of a gaseous and / or liquid heating medium to be heated. Catalytic combustion avoids difficulties in the flame control of the heating device, which benefits a compact design.

A preferably refillable heating medium tank can be arranged in the rear area of the housing of the inhalation device. Alternatively, an embodiment is conceivable in which an exchangeable refill cartridge with heating medium is inserted into the housing. The usual combustible substances are suitable as heating means, which can be liquid or gaseous at room temperature, as specified in the claims in detail.

The inhalation device can have a switching device which is connected to a preferably piezoelectrically operated ignition device set up to ignite the heating medium and to a valve device set up to release heating medium from the heating medium tank. In a preferred embodiment, the switching device is designed purely mechanically and has an axially displaceable, preferably poorly heat-conducting ring on the front region of the housing of the inhalation device, which is preferably fixable in two positions. For example, the piezoelectrically effected ignition process can be triggered by moving the ring, the valve device simultaneously opening to release heating medium for the catalytic combustion; the ring is then turned to lock, the valve device remaining open and the heating process continuing. If enough time has passed, for example after a train has ended, the user can unlock the ring by turning it back and push it back into its starting position, which is preferably done with the aid of a spring, so that the valve device closes again and the heating process is ended. The front region of the housing of the inhalation device preferably has air access openings for supplying combustion air to the heating device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the combustion gases (essentially carbon dioxide and water) emanating from the heating device are added to the inhalable aerosol, with the user being able to conduct air, combustion gas and aerosol cheaply. In the case of catalytic combustion in particular, the combustion gases contain such small amounts of harmful substances such as carbon monoxide that this is harmless. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the combustion gases are kept away from the inhalable aerosol.

In an advantageous embodiment, the housing of the inhalation device has a component that lights up during operation of the heating device, e.g. a heating surface, a window. The user can then easily check the operating state of the inhalation device.

The housing of the inhalation device can be configured in one part or in several parts. In the latter case it is preferably in two parts and has a releasable connection, e.g. in the middle area between the front area of the housing in which the heatable substrate holder is arranged and the rear area of the housing in which the heating medium tank is located. The housing can be opened at the detachable connection, e.g. for cleaning purposes. The material for the inhaler housing should be heat resistant. Thermosets, multi-component plastics, hardwoods, precious woods, burl wood and / or metal come into question.

The substrate portion preferably has a cylindrical shape, the sheathing being arranged as a cylinder jacket and the end faces of the cylinder as an air inlet opening and as

Aerosol outlet are set up. Here is the Sheathing preferably low porous to impermeable to air to avoid sidestream smoke. In its front region, the substrate portion can have an insulating covering, which preferably protrudes beyond the front end of the covering, so that the user does not come into contact with hot surfaces when the substrate portion is pushed back into the housing of the inhalation device. The aerosol-forming material of the substrate portion can have a largely inert carrier material or tobacco material and additional additives. The material preferably contains a higher proportion of polyols which serve as aerosol formers. It is also conceivable that the substrate portion is a thin, filterless cigarette which is commercially available per se and which has polyols in a proportion of 5% by weight to 10% by weight. Details of possible configurations of the substrate portion can be found in the claims.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment. The drawings show in:

1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through an inventive system designed as a smoking article for providing an inhalable aerosol, in which a portion of the substrate is inserted into an inhalation device, and

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through a substrate portion.

FIG. 1 shows how a portion of substrate 1 is inserted into an inhalation device serving as a smoking device. Figure 2 shows the substrate portion 1 in more detail. In this embodiment of the substrate portion 1, aerosol-forming material 2 is located within a cylindrical envelope 3. The envelope 3 leaves the end faces of the cylinder free, so that an air inlet opening 4 and an aerosol outlet opening 5 are formed there. The aerosol-forming material 2 can have, for example, cut leaf tobacco, cut tobacco ribs, reconstituted tobacco or a carrier material treated with aroma substances. Leaf and rib cuts can also be used in expanded form. Both organic materials such as paper or cellulose fibers and inorganic materials such as silica gel can be used as carrier materials for flavorings. Any mixtures of the components mentioned can also be used. Numerous components and constituents for the aerosol-forming material are mentioned in the claims, so that numerous variants are conceivable.

To increase aerosol formation, the aerosol forming material 2 preferably contains a high proportion of one or more polyols, e.g. Glycerin and / or propylene glycol, e.g. when using largely inert carrier materials such as aluminum oxide, silica gel, activated carbon, cellulose fibers, lignin granules, zeolites, clays or meerschaum or combinations thereof in the range from 10% by weight to 60% by weight. When tobacco materials are used, the preferred proportion of the polyols is 10% by weight to 40% by weight. Another way of increasing aerosol formation is to use the aerosol-forming materials with a moisture which is significantly above the equilibrium moisture; for example Tobacco, whose equilibrium moisture content is approx. 10% to 12%, can be used with a moisture content of 20%. In this case, suitable packaging must be used to ensure that there is no loss of moisture until use.

The envelope 3 can consist of paper, plastic film or metal foil. A multi-layer covering made of the components mentioned can also be used. However, a single-layer wrapping made of paper or metal-coated paper is preferred. Low-porosity or almost air-impermeable cigarette paper, which preferably has a high proportion of mineral additives, is particularly advantageous. This ensures that when Heating and smoking the portion of substrate practically no sidestream smoke occurs.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate portion 1 is in its front region, i.e. in the area of the air inlet opening 4, surrounded by an additional insulating sheath (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), which preferably projects beyond the front end of the sheath 3. This insulating covering ensures that the user does not come into contact with uncomfortably hot surfaces when he pushes the substrate portion 1 deeper into the inhalation device when smoking (see below).

It is also conceivable to use a thin, filterless, commercially available cigarette as substrate portion, which has polyols in a proportion of 5% by weight to 10% by weight.

Two further examples of configurations of the substrate portion 1 are described below.

example 1

An American blend tobacco blend containing 30% Burley tobacco, 40% expanded Virginia tobacco, 20% unexpanded Virginia tobacco and 10% Orient tobacco was conditioned with 12% by weight of an aqueous Casings sprayed with a glycerol content of 80 wt .-%. The tobacco was then cut with a 0.8 mm cutting width and dried to a moisture content of 12%. 180 kg of this cut tobacco was mixed with 20 kg of expanded rib cut. From this mixture an endless strand with a diameter of 5 mm and a stuffing density of 200 mg / ml was produced on a cigarette rod making machine. The wrapping material used was an aluminum-laminated, air-impermeable paper on the outside. The endless strand was cut into individual portions of 40 mm in length. Example 2

A paper film tobacco produced by known processes with a content of propylene glycol of 12% by weight was cut with a cutting width of 0.8 mm, fed to a cigarette rod making machine as in Example 1 and wrapped in a cigarette paper in the latter, the cigarette paper having an air permeability of 5 CU had. By cutting the continuous strand (6 mm in diameter), substrate portions with a respective length of 50 mm were obtained; the plug density was 240 mg / ml.

In principle, the use of a substrate portion is also conceivable, which is provided behind the aerosol outlet opening 5 with a commercially available filter. However, it must be ensured that when inserting such a portion of substrate into the inhalation device it is not the filter but the aerosol-forming material 2 that is heated upstream of the filter.

1 shows a schematic longitudinal section of an embodiment of an inhalation device 10. The inhalation device 10 has a rod-like or cigar-shaped housing 12 with a front area 14 and a rear mouth area 16. The rear end piece of the rear area 16 is designed as a mouthpiece 18, see Figure 1.

The housing 12 preferably consists of a heat-resistant material such as a thermoset, a multi-component plastic, a hardwood, a noble wood, root wood or metal or of several such materials. In order to avoid that the user comes into contact with hot surfaces, critical points are provided with thermal insulation or consist of heat-insulating materials.

In the exemplary embodiment, the housing 12 is designed in two parts, the front region 14 and the rear region 16 having one

Connection 20 can be joined. At connection 20 The front area 14 and the rear area 16 of the housing 12 can be plugged into one another, a guide, not shown in FIG. 1, in which a projection engages in a groove, ensures a defined position of the rear area 16 with respect to the front area 14 and prevents twisting. A thin-walled union nut 21, which engages an external thread on the rear region 16, serves to secure it. An insulating ring 22 largely prevents heat transfer from the front region 14 of the housing 12, which is heated during operation, to the rear region 16 with the mouthpiece 18. When the housing 12 is opened at the connection 20, the inhalation device 10 can be cleaned.

On the front side 23 of the housing 12 there is a loading opening 24 through which a portion of substrate 1 can be inserted into the interior of the housing 12. A substrate holder 26, which has a guide sleeve 28 matched to the outer diameter of the substrate portion 1, is used to hold the substrate portion 1. Arranged behind the guide sleeve 28 is a heating surface 30 which is hollow cylindrical in the exemplary embodiment. Behind the heating surface 30, the substrate holder 26 has a rear cavity 32 into which the rear region of a substrate portion 1 inserted can be inserted.

An axially arranged flow channel 34 extends over the full length of the rear region 16 of the housing 12 and extends from the rear cavity 32 to the rear end of the mouthpiece 18.

The heating surface 30 is a component of a heating device operating in the exemplary embodiment as a flameless operating annealing catalyst for heating the substrate holder 26. Combustion air for operating the heating device can enter the housing 12 via air inlet openings 36 in the front region 14. When the heating surface 30 is at a high temperature, it heats the zone of the substrate portion 1 that is located in their area. If, in the exemplary embodiment, the heating surface 30 is designed as a hollow cylinder, it heats the region of the substrate portion 1 that is just arranged in its interior. In the exemplary embodiment, the inner diameter of the heating surface 30 is larger than the outer diameter of the substrate portion 1. The heat from the heating surface 30 is thereby the substrate portion 1 is mainly transported by radiation. The heating surface 30 can also be arranged in such a way that heat is transported by conduction. In this case, it is advantageous if the heating surface 30 does not directly touch the substrate portion 1, but if a jacket, preferably provided with bores, is arranged within the heating surface 30, which is made of a good heat-conducting material such as aluminum and whose dimensions correspond to the Substrate portion 1 is matched so that it preferably lies directly on the substrate portion 1 (not shown in Figure 1). Numerous variants are conceivable for the design of the heating surface 30. Thus, several heating surfaces can also be provided, for example two heating surfaces arranged parallel to one another, or other shapes can be selected for the heating surface, for example a shape with a channel-like profile. It is essential that the heating surface 30 causes the zone of the substrate portion 1 in its area to be heated via the outside of the substrate portion 1, that is to say direct heating, in contrast to indirect heating, in the case of the heated gas (especially air) through the substrate portion is pulled.

The heating medium required for operating the heating device, for example butane gas, pentane or isopropanol, is located in a heating medium tank 38 which is arranged in the rear region 16 of the housing 12. The heating medium tank 38 can be refilled via a refill nozzle 40 which is guided to the outside and is provided with a closure. In the exemplary embodiment, the heating medium tank 38 is designed in a ring-like manner, the flow channel 34 leading through its axial region. Instead of a refillable heating medium tank 38, a one designed as a refill cartridge can also be used Heating medium tank may be provided, which is used as a whole in the rear region 16 of the housing 12. Alternatively, it is conceivable to design the entire rear area 16 of the housing 12 as a disposable item that is exchanged when the heating medium tank 38 is empty.

In order to lead heating medium from the heating medium tank 38 to the heating surface 30, a valve 42 has to be opened, which opens into a heating medium line 44 which is connected to the heating surface 30. Since, in the exemplary embodiment, the front area 14 can be separated from the rear area 16 of the housing 12, the heating medium line 44 must also have a separation point which is designed as a sealed coupling 46.

A mechanical switching device is used to ignite the heating means and to actuate the valve 42, which has a ring 48 which can be displaced axially on the front region 14 of the housing 12 and is poorly heat-conducting. On the outside of the ring 48 is provided with a grip surface. When the ring 48 is shifted backwards, i.e. in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 1, the valve 42 is opened so that heating medium can flow from the heating medium tank 38 to the heating surface 30, and at the same time actuates a piezoelectric igniter 50, which causes catalytic combustion initiates the heating medium. In the position moved backwards, the ring 48 can be locked by twisting. The valve 42 remains open in this position of the ring 48 so that the catalytic combustion continues and the heating surface 30 emits heat, even if the igniter 50 is not active during this period. When the heating process is to be ended, the ring 48 is unlocked by rotating in the opposite direction and pushed forward. The valve 42 closes. A spring, not shown in FIG. 1, preferably presses the ring 48 forward. The mechanical components for actuating valve 42 and igniter 50 are not shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity. If a user wants to use the inhalation device 10, he first pushes a fresh portion of substrate 1, for example a special slim cigarette with a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 40 mm, through the loading opening 24 until the rear zone of the portion of substrate 1 is in the area the heating surface 30 comes to rest. If he wants to inhale the first train, he pulls the ring 48 towards the mouthpiece 18 and locks it by twisting. As already explained, heating medium thereby flows to the heating surface 30 and is ignited. Due to the heat given off by the catalytic combustion, the zone of the substrate portion 1 is heated in the area of the heating surface 30, so that the aerosol-forming material 2 releases flavor aerosol. When the user pulls on the mouthpiece 18, air passes through the air inlet opening 4 into the substrate portion 1 and conveys the flavor aerosol through the aerosol outlet opening 5 of the substrate portion 1 via the flow channel 34 to the user. Additional air, which serves for dilution, preferably enters via the air inlet openings 36. In the exemplary embodiment, the inhaled aerosol also contains carbon dioxide and water vapor from the catalytic combustion of the heating medium. If the housing 12 has a window (not shown in FIG. 1) which allows the user a view of the heating surface 30, he sees that the heating surface 30 lights up red when ignited and, when he pulls on the mouthpiece 18, its color is in light red changes.

Before taking the next train, the user pushes the substrate portion 1 a little towards the mouthpiece 18. The rear, smoked zone of the substrate portion 1 enters the rear cavity 32, while a fresh zone enters the area of the heating surface 30. This way, fresh flavor aerosol flows to the user on the next train. In order to save heating medium and to avoid sidestream smoke, the user can unlock the ring 48 after each pull by turning it counterclockwise and push it forward so that the valve 42 closes. The last pull is removed when the substrate portion 1 on the insulating ring 22 is present. The user can then pull the substrate portion 1 out of the housing 12 through the loading opening 24 and dispose of it.

In the described embodiment of the inhalation device 10, the user ensures by pulling the mouthpiece 18 that the ambient air flows through the air inlet openings 36 to the heating surface 30 (catalytic combustion) and through the air inlet opening 4 into the substrate portion 1 and through the substrate portion 1. The combustion gases generated in the catalytic combustion are sucked into the flow channel 34 and, as already mentioned, add to the inhaled aerosol. Since the catalytic combustion is fairly complete, the content of carbon monoxide and other undesirable substances from the combustion in the inhaled aerosol is low, so that this type of gas and aerosol guidance is acceptable.

However, it is also possible to keep the combustion gases away from the inhaled aerosol. For this purpose, for example, a sleeve made of heat-conducting metal which is open at both ends can be provided within the heating surface 30 and connects the guide sleeve 28 to the rear cavity 32, so that the combustion gases have no access to the flow channel 34. This sleeve preferably lies in heat-conducting contact against an inserted substrate portion 1. In this embodiment, the wall of the housing 12 must have at least one outlet opening for the combustion gases. The desired flow from the air inlet openings 36 via the heating surface 30 to this outlet opening can be achieved by a temperature gradient (thermals).

Claims

claims

1. System for providing an inhalable aerosol, with an inhalation device (10), which has a rod-like housing (12) with a rear mouth-side area (16) and a front area (14), wherein in the front area (14) of the housing ( 12) a substrate holder (26) which can be heated by a heating device (30, 38, 44, 50) is arranged and is accessible via a loading opening (24) preferably located on the front side (23) of the housing (12), a flow channel ( 34) leads from the substrate holder (26) to the rear end of the housing (12) and the heating device (30, 38, 44, 50) is set up to generate heat by thermal or catalytic combustion, and

- A substrate portion (1) which is set up for insertion into the substrate holder (26) through the loading opening (24) and which contains aerosol-forming material (3) within an envelope (3) which has an air inlet opening (4) and an aerosol outlet opening (5). 2) contains.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that a filter can be used in the flow channel (34) of the inhalation device (10).

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that in the rear region (16) of the housing (12) of the inhalation device (10) a filter mouthpiece designed as a filter in the flow channel (34) can be used.

4. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inhalation device (10) in the rear region (16) of the housing (12) has a mouthpiece (18) which is connected to the flow channel (34) and preferably poorly conductive is.

5. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the substrate holder (26) of the inhalation device (10) has at least one heating surface (30), which is preferably hollow cylindrical or channel-like.

6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the substrate holder (26) of the inhalation device (10) has two heating surfaces arranged parallel to one another, the mutual distance between which is preferably adjustable.

7. System according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the substrate holder (26) of the inhalation device (10) within the heating surfaces (30) has a preferably thermally conductive jacket provided with bores, which is set up on a in the substrate holder ( 26) used substrate portion (1).

8. System according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the substrate holder (26) of the inhalation device (10) behind the heating surfaces (30) has a rear cavity (32) into which the rear region of an inserted portion of substrate (1) can be inserted.

9. System according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the heating surfaces (30) of the inhalation device (10) are set up to be heated by catalytic combustion of a gaseous and / or liquid heating medium.

10. System according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in the rear region (16) of the housing (12) of the inhalation device (10) a heating medium tank (38) is arranged, which is preferably refillable from the outside.

11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the heating means comprises one or more of the substances selected from the following group: n-alkanes with one to four carbon atoms, n-alkanes with five to twenty carbon atoms, branched or ring-shaped alkanes with four to twenty carbon atoms, alcohols, ketones, esters, aldehydes.

12. System according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the inhalation device (10) has a switching device (48) which with a set up for igniting the heating means, preferably piezoelectrically operating ignition device (50) and one for releasing heating means from the heating medium tank (38) the valve device (42) is in operative connection.

13. System according to claim 12, characterized in that the switching device (48) has an axially on the front region (14) of the housing (12) of the inhalation device (10) displaceable, preferably poorly heat-conducting ring (48), preferably in two Positions can be fixed.

14. System according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the front region (14) of the housing (12) of the inhalation device (10) has air inlet openings (36).

15. System according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the housing (12) of the inhalation device (10) has a window before a component (30) which lights up during operation of the heating device (30, 38, 44, 50).

16. System according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the housing (12) of the inhalation device (10) is designed in one piece.

17. System according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the housing (12) of the inhalation device (10) is designed in several parts, preferably in two parts, and has a releasable connection (20).

18. System according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the housing (12) of the inhalation device (10) comprises one or more of the materials selected from the following group: thermosets, multi-component plastics, hardwoods, precious woods, burlwood, metal.

19. System according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the substrate portion (1) has a cylindrical shape with a length of 10 mm to 100 mm, preferably from 15 mm to 60 mm, and a diameter of 4 mm to 12 mm , preferably from 5 mm to 8 mm, the casing (3) being arranged as a cylinder jacket and the end faces of the cylinder being set up as an air inlet opening (4) and as an aerosol outlet opening (5).

20. System according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the covering (3) of the substrate portion (1) has low-porous or almost air-impermeable cigarette paper, which preferably has a high proportion of mineral additives.

21. System according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the covering (3) of the substrate portion (1) has a metallic foil, preferably an aluminum foil.

22. System according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the substrate portion (1) has in its front region an insulating sheath, which preferably protrudes beyond the front end of the sheath (3).

23. System according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the aerosol-forming material (2) of the substrate portion (1) is a carrier material, preferably aluminum oxide, silica gel, activated carbon, cellulose fibers, lignin granules, zeolites, clays or meerschaum or combinations thereof , and a polyol or more polyols, preferably glycerin and / or propylene glycol, and preferably additionally has binders, gelling agents, additives, flavors and / or nicotine, the proportion of the polyols being from 10% by weight to 60% by weight .

24. System according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the aerosol-forming material (2) of the substrate portion (1) is a tobacco material, preferably cut tobacco, foil tobacco cut and / or tobacco rib cut, and a polyol or more polyols, preferably glycerol and / or propylene glycol, which is preferably thickened with tobacco dust, and preferably additionally has binders, gelling agents, additives, flavors and / or nicotine, the proportion of the polyols being from 10% by weight to 40% by weight.

25. System according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the substrate portion (1) is a thin, filterless, commercially available cigarette, which has polyols in a proportion of 5 wt .-% to 10 wt .-%.

26. Inhaler device, which has a rod-like housing (12) with a rear mouth-side area (16) and a front area (14), one of a heating device (30, 38, 44 , 50) heatable substrate holder (26) is arranged, which is accessible via a loading opening (24) preferably located on the front side (23) of the housing (12), a flow channel (34) extending from the substrate holder (26) to the rear end of the housing (12) leads and the Heating device (30, 38, 44, 50) is set up to generate heat by thermal or catalytic combustion.

27. Inhaler device according to claim 26, characterized by features of the inhaler device (10) from one of claims 2 to 18.

28 substrate portion, which is set up for insertion into the substrate holder (26) of an inhalation device (10) according to claim 26 or 27 through the loading opening (24) and within an envelope (3) which has an air inlet opening (4) and an aerosol outlet opening ( 5), contains aerosol-forming material (2).

29. substrate portion according to claim 28, characterized by features of the substrate portion (1) from one of claims 19 to 25.