R.j. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Robert L Meiring

Vernon Brent Barnes

Jack F Clearman

Donald R Wilkinson

Jerry W Lawson

Jeffrey Kane Rogers

Max Warren Cole

Kenneth O Baker

Keith Stanley Moser

Disclosed are new fuel components for smoking articles such as cigarettes, new methods of making such fuel components, and cigarettes or other smoking articles incorporating the new fuel components. Fuel components for smoking articles are formed by continuously extruding a composition to form a preselected shape, circumscribing the continuously extruded composition with a layer of material to form a wrapped rod or composite member, preferably bonding the fuel element to the layer of material, and cutting the resulting composite member into predetermined lengths for use in assembling smoking articles.

Components for smoking articles and process for making same

A method of and apparatus for adjusting and controlling the moisture content of carbonaceous fuel components used in making smoking articles comprises a mass flow accumulator and a dryer through which the fuel components are conveyed. Unheated air is flowed over the fuel components in the accumulator to adjust and maintain the moisture content of the fuel components to a level which permits cutting of the fuel components without chipping or cracking. After the fuel components are cut into individual fuel elements and combined with an aerosol generator or substrate they are conveyed through the dryer where heated air is flowed over them to further reduce the moisture content to a desired level for further processing and manufacture into smoking articles.

Method of and apparatus for adjusting the moisture content of a fuel

The present invention is directed to improvements in carbonaceous fuel elements wherein (a) the fuel elements are provided with a composite support member which assists in retaining the fuel element within the cigarette structure during smoking, and (b) the fuel elements burn at a lower average temperature than previously known carbonaceous fuel elements. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fuel element comprises at least two different materials contiguous throughout the length thereof, and including one material which burns, and another material which preferably does not burn, or burns more slowly than the burnable material. The non-burning, or substantially non-burning material is advantageously a heat exchange material such as graphite. In preferred embodiments, the nonburning support or retaining member extends beyond the periphery of the burnable material such that it interacts with the insulating jacket which surrounds the fuel element, locking the same in place, particularly during smoking.

Composite fuel element for smoking articles

A cigarette including a longitudinally segmented combustible fuel element, and a substrate carrying tobacco extract and glycerin positioned physically separate from the fuel element is disclosed. The substrate is a gathered paper-type material, and is positioned in a spaced apart relationship from the fuel element. One preferred smoking article of the present invention is a cigarette which comprises (i) a symmetrical and longitudinally segmented combustible fuel element; (ii) a physically separate aerosol generating means including at least one aerosol forming material; and (iii) means for securing, maintaining or retaining the fuel element within the smoking article. The symmetrical fuel element of the present invention comprises two substantially identical end segments; a longitudinally disposed intermediate segment; and two, preferably identical, reduced cross-sectional area (or reduced circumference) segments (also called 'isolation' segments) located between each of the end segments and the intermediate segment. The symmetrical nature of the fuel element allows it to be inserted into the cigarette without concern as to any particular longitudinal orientation. Thus, when placed in a cigarette, one end segment of the fuel element serves as a burning segment, while the other end segment serves as a base segment.

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Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

Robert L Meiring