DE202014101125U1 - Electronic cigarette or pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

Electronic cigarette (1) or pipe with a mouthpiece (2) and an evaporator (4), the evaporator (4) being activatable by means of an activating agent and the activated evaporator (4) evaporating a liquid, characterized in that a control unit (12 ) is provided with an associated sensor (10), the sensor (10) being designed as a thermal radiation detector which detects the temperature of the evaporator (4), and wherein the temperature of the evaporator (4) is dependent on the control unit (12) is controlled by sensor signals from the sensor (10).

Description

The invention relates to an electronic cigarette or whistle.

Such an electronic cigarette or whistle generally comprises a mouthpiece and an evaporator having substantially a liquid reservoir, a liquid carrier and a heating element. Liquid present in the liquid reservoir is automatically supplied to the heating element via a capillary action of the liquid carrier. The heating element is in contact with this liquid carrier. The electronic cigarette or whistle further comprises an activating means, in particular a switch such as a push button, vacuum switch or draft switch, with which a user can start an inhalation process. By actuating the activating means, the heating element is activated and vaporizes liquid present in the liquid carrier. The resulting steam is then inhaled by the user.

Such electronic cigarettes and pipes are increasingly used as alternatives to tobacco cigarettes and tobacco pipes, as they have health benefits to them. This health benefit is obtained by the fact that the evaporation of the liquid, which typically consists of a carrier liquid of propylene glycol or glycerol, water, flavorings and optionally nicotine, significantly less carcinogenic substances are produced.

In known electronic cigarettes or pipes, the performance of the evaporator is adjusted to a constant value, which is accomplished for example by means of a voltage control of the heating element. Typically, the setpoint of the power may be dictated by the user of the electronic cigarette or whistle.

A major problem with such systems is that overheating of the heating element can occur, which can result in melting of the liquid carrier and / or the heating element itself, typically consisting of mineral fibers, glass fibers, porous ceramic material or a steel screen. This in turn can lead to unwanted chemical reactions and a release of substances of health concern.

Such overheating of the heating element can then take place if too high a power is set. Overheating of the heating element can occur, in particular, when a high but still permissible power is set and then is not or only weakly pulled on the electronic cigarette or whistle. Then, namely, the heat generated by the heating element can not be sufficiently dissipated, which then leads to overheating.

Another cause for overheating of the heating element may be that not enough liquid from the liquid storage enters the liquid carrier. This may be due to the fact that the liquid storage is not sufficiently filled with liquid. Furthermore, a blockage on the liquid storage can lead to an insufficient supply of liquid to the liquid carrier.

Finally, overheating of the heating element may occur if its heating wires are not tight against the liquid carrier and thus the heat generated in the heating element is transferred insufficiently to the liquid carrier.

The invention has for its object to provide an electronic cigarette or whistle, which has high reliability at low design cost.

To solve this problem, the features of claim 1 are provided. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

The invention relates to an electronic cigarette or pipe with a mouthpiece and an evaporator, wherein the evaporator can be activated by means of an activating agent and the activated evaporator evaporates a liquid. A control unit is provided with an associated sensor, wherein the sensor is designed as a thermal radiation detector, which detects the temperature of the evaporator. By means of the control unit, the temperature of the evaporator is controlled in dependence on sensor signals of the sensor.

The term electronic cigarette or whistle also includes cigars and the like. Furthermore, the invention can also be used for shishas and similar units.

The basic idea of the invention is thus to predetermine its performance by regulating the temperature of the evaporator so that overheating of the evaporator can be ruled out. In this way dangerous conditions can be avoided by melting components of the evaporator, in particular the liquid carrier and the heating element, whereby it is also possible to avoid the release of harmful substances.

The vaporizer of the electronic cigarette or whistle generally consists of a mouthpiece, a liquid reservoir, and a liquid carrier and a heating element. When activating the evaporator the heating element is activated and evaporates liquid in the liquid carrier. Since dangerous conditions emanate from overheating of the heating element, it is particularly efficient if the temperature of the heating element is detected with the sensor in order to carry out a temperature control in dependence thereon.

In general, several fault states can be intercepted with the temperature control according to the invention, as a result of which the functional reliability of the electronic cigarette or whistle according to the invention is increased.

If a user pulls on activated evaporator suddenly weaker or not at all on the electronic cigarette or whistle, the temperature of the heating element would rise immediately because no or little cold air flows around the heating element due to the reduced tensile strength. By the temperature control according to the invention this undesirable effect is counteracted, in particular by switching off or by reducing the power of the heating element, whereby overheating of the heating element is avoided.

The same effect is obtained when too little liquid is present in the liquid carrier, which also leads to an increase in the temperature of the heating element. Also in this case, the temperature control prevents overheating of the heating element.

Finally, with the temperature control according to the invention, uniform operation of the evaporator is ensured even when the user suddenly pulls harder on the electronic cigarette or whistle. Since in this case more cold air flows around the heating element, this would lead to a cooling of the heating element. Temperature control, however, compensates for this effect by either energizing or operating the heater at higher power.

A particularly simple embodiment of the invention provides that with the control unit, the temperature of the evaporator is limited to a maximum temperature.

Already with this simple type of control overheating of the evaporator, in particular of the heating element, can be safely avoided.

According to an alternative embodiment, the control unit is regulated to a setpoint temperature.

In this case, the setpoint temperature can advantageously be predetermined by actuation of setting means on the electronic cigarette or whistle by its user.

The setpoint temperature can be specified within a defined temperature range, which is limited by a maximum and minimum temperature.

Advantageously, the minimum temperature and the maximum temperature are specified by the manufacturer.

The minimum temperature corresponds to a lower limit temperature, below which no meaningful evaporation is possible. Typically, this minimum temperature is about 200 ° C.

The maximum temperature corresponds to an upper limit temperature above which evaporation leads to damage or destruction of the heating element or generally run uncontrolled chemical reactions in the evaporator. Depending on the embodiment of the evaporator, the maximum temperature is between 250 ° C and 500 ° C.

Due to the limited specification of the setpoint temperature only in the limited by the maximum and minimum temperature range is thus ensured in a simple manner safe operation of the evaporator, regardless of which temperature is set.

By adjusting to the setpoint temperature, a constant temperature of the evaporator, in particular of the heating element, is obtained, whereby overheating of the heating element, even with exposed heating wires or short circuits within the heating wires of the heating element, is reliably avoided.

Advantageously, the setting of the temperature of the evaporator, in particular of the heating element, by the control unit by a predetermined clock ratio of activation and deactivation of the heating element.

During activation of the evaporator thus the heating element is operated intermittently, whereby the respective target temperature can be adjusted quickly and precisely.

The temperature control is carried out according to the invention as a function of the sensor signals generated by the sensor, wherein the sensor is designed as a thermal radiation detector.

The sensor generally detects outgoing heat radiation from the evaporator, in particular the heating element, which provides a direct measure of the temperature of the respective object.

The sensor is particularly advantageously designed as an IR detector, that is to say as a sensor which is sensitive to radiation in the infrared range.

Such a sensor can be designed in particular as a thermopile sensor. Such thermopile, that is thermopiles, consist of an array of thermocouples, which are thermally connected in parallel and electrically in series, whereby low thermoelectric voltages are added and allow a correspondingly accurate temperature measurement.

The infrared detectors are particularly advantageously formed by semiconductor components, in particular by photodiodes or phototransistors. Such infrared detectors have reaction times of a few nanoseconds and are thus also suitable for very fast control processes. Examples of such photodiodes are silicon photodiodes, germanium photodiodes and indium gallium arsenide photodiodes.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the electronic cigarette or whistle whose electronic components are arranged in a separate from the evaporator chamber electronics compartment.

As a result, the electronic components are protected from the vaporized liquid and also isolated from the elevated temperature of the heating element.

Since the thermal radiation detector works without contact, it can also be housed in the electronics compartment with the electronic components and protected accordingly.

Advantageously, the evaporator chamber and the electronics compartment are separated by a partition wall, wherein an optical element is arranged in the partition wall.

In general, the optical element can be a lens, a transparent pane, a transparent bar or a transparent, closed tube.

The partition wall thus fulfills a dual function such that on the one hand it isolates the electronics compartment from the evaporator compartment. On the other hand, a targeted guiding of the heat radiation generated by the heating element to the sensor is effected by the optical element. By means of an optical element in the form of a lens, there is also a focusing of the radiation on the sensor, whereby the detection sensitivity is correspondingly increased.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

1 : Schematic representation of an embodiment of the electronic cigarette according to the invention.

2 : Enlarged detail of the evaporator and electronic components of the electronic cigarette according to 1 ,

1 shows an embodiment of the electronic cigarette according to the invention 1 , Instead of a cigarette, a cigar, a pipe or a hookah can be provided. The electronic cigarette 1 has a mouthpiece 2 on. The mouthpiece 2 is part of a housing 3 , which is suitably adapted to the shape of conventional tobacco cigarettes. In the mouthpiece 2 subsequent housing part are the components of an evaporator 4 integrated, namely a liquid storage 5 , a liquid carrier 6 and a heating element 7 , The liquid store 5 contains a liquid, which consists of a carrier liquid of propylene glycol or glycerol and water and also contains flavorings and optionally nicotine. The liquid carrier 6 is at the liquor store 5 coupled, so that by capillary liquid from the liquid storage 5 in the liquid carrier 6 is guided. The liquid carrier 6 may consist of glass fibers, mineral fibers or a sintered material such as a ceramic. Also a liquid sieve consisting of a steel sieve 6 is possible. The heating element 7 is in contact with the liquid carrier 6 , The heating element 7 consists of a heating wire, typically in two to six turns around the liquid carrier 6 is wound. In the on the evaporator 4 subsequent housing part is an electronic unit 8th integrated. The electronic assembly 8th comprises a not separately shown activating means for activating the heating element 7 , The activating means may be formed by a microprocessor-controlled switch, such as a push button, a vacuum switch or draft switch. In the back of the case 3 There is a self-sufficient power supply, which in the present case of a battery 9 is formed. Alternatively, an accumulator may be provided. Alternatively, instead of an electronic cigarette 1 Also, an electronic whistle may be provided with a corresponding structure.

The functioning of the electronic cigarette 1 is such that the activator is activated by the user to initiate an inhalation process. The activation takes place by manual actuation of the activating means in the form of a switch or by exerting a pull on the mouthpiece 2 with a certain pull strength. By such activation of the activating means, the heating element becomes 7 activates and vaporizes liquid in the liquid carrier 6 , The resulting steam is then inhaled by the user.

2 shows with the arrows the flow conditions in an inhalation process. About an air supply 3a in the case 3 Air is sucked in, while the liquid carrier 6 led to the heating element, so that there evaporated liquid when pulling on the mouthpiece 2 is inhaled.

According to the specification of the power of the evaporator 4 via a temperature control, the control depending on a sensor 10 takes place, the temperature of the evaporator 4 , specifically of the heating element, determined. The sensor 10 is designed as a thermal radiation detector, which determines its temperature without contact by detecting the heat radiation emitted by the heating element. The thermal radiation detector is designed in the present case as an infrared detector, in particular as a photodiode or phototransistor.

How out 1 and even more clearly in the enlarged partial representation of 2 can be seen, is the sensor 10 with the electronic components of the electronic module 8th housed in an electronics room through a partition 11 is separated from an evaporator space with the components of the evaporator space.

In the electronics room is as an electronic component of the electronic module 8th a control unit 12 represented, which is formed by a microprocessor, on a printed circuit board 13 is arranged. On this circuit board 13 is also the sensor 10 arranged.

In the partition 11 there is an optical element in the form of a lens 14 , which can be made of glass or plastic. With the lens 14 is radiant heat emanating from the heating element on the sensor 10 led, in 2 radiate 15 the heat radiation are shown schematically.

Alternatively, the optical element may be formed by a preferably glass rod or a closed tube.

With the control unit 12 takes place with activated evaporator 4 depending on the sensor signals of the sensor 10 a temperature control, whereby overheating of the heating element is avoided.

In principle, the control can be carried out such that the temperature of the evaporator 4 , Specifically, of the heating element is limited to a maximum temperature, which is chosen so that overheating of the heating element is avoided.

In the present case, a control is carried out to a target temperature, the user via setting means not shown in the control unit 12 can enter. In this case, the user can select the target temperature only within a predetermined temperature range, which is limited by a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature. These temperatures are specified by the manufacturer. The minimum temperature forms a limit temperature below which meaningful evaporation is no longer possible. Typically, the minimum temperature is about 200 ° C. The maximum temperature forms a limit temperature above which destruction of the heating element would take place. This is typically in the range between 250 ° and 500 ° C.

The regulation of the evaporator temperature takes place in that via the control unit 12 the heating element is switched on and off in a predetermined clock ratio. By specifying the respective time intervals of activation and deactivation, the temperature of the evaporator 4 , specific to the heating element, are adjusted quickly and accurately to the setpoint temperature. This target temperature is independent of the tensile strength and the liquid flow in the evaporator 4 maintained.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 Electronic cigarette

2

 mouthpiece

3

 casing

3a

 air supply

4

 Evaporator

5

 Liquid storage

6

 Liquid carrier

7

 Liquid carrier

8th

 unit

9

 battery

10

 sensor

11

 partition wall

12

 control unit

13

 circuit board

14

 lens

15

 radiate

Claims (15)

Electronic cigarette ( 1 ) or whistle with a mouthpiece ( 2 ) and an evaporator ( 4 ), whereby the evaporator ( 4 ) is activated by means of an activating agent and the activated evaporator ( 4 ) evaporates a liquid, characterized in that a control unit ( 12 ) with an associated sensor ( 10 ) is provided, wherein the sensor ( 10 ) is designed as a thermal radiation detector, which determines the temperature of the evaporator ( 4 ), and wherein by means of the control unit ( 12 ) the temperature of the evaporator ( 4 ) as a function of sensor signals of the sensor ( 10 ) is regulated. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaporator ( 4 ) a liquid carrier ( 6 ) and a heating element, wherein when activated evaporator ( 4 ) the heating element is activated and in the liquid carrier ( 6 ) existing liquid evaporates, and that with the sensor ( 10 ) the temperature of the heating element is detected. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the thermal radiation detector is an infrared detector. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the thermal radiation detector is a photodiode or a phototransistor. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the thermal radiation detector is a thermopile sensor ( 10 ). Electronic cigarette or whistle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that with the control unit ( 12 ) the temperature of the evaporator ( 4 ) is limited to a maximum temperature. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that with the control unit ( 12 ) takes place a control to a desired temperature. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to claim 7, characterized in that the desired temperature can be predetermined by adjusting means. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the target temperature is within a limited by a minimum temperature and a maximum temperature temperature range. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to claim 9, characterized in that the minimum temperature and the maximum temperature are preset by the manufacturer. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the adjustment of the temperature of the evaporator ( 4 ), in particular of the heating element, by the control unit ( 12 ) is effected by a predetermined clock ratio of activation and deactivation of the heating element. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the electronic components are arranged in a separate from the evaporator chamber electronics compartment. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to claim 12, characterized in that the sensor ( 10 ) is arranged in the electronics compartment. Electronic cigarette or pipe according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the evaporator chamber and the electronics compartment by a partition wall ( 11 ) are separated, wherein in the partition ( 11 ) An optical element is arranged. Electronic cigarette or whistle according to claim 14, characterized in that the optical element is a lens ( 14 ), a transparent disc, a transparent rod or a transparent, closed tube.

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