EA042776B1 - STEAM GENERATING SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to a vapor generating system, and more particularly to a vapor generating system for generating a vapor or an aerosol for inhalation by a user. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a steam generating device.

Prerequisites for the creation of the invention

Devices that heat, rather than burn, a vapor-generating material to produce vapor for inhalation have become popular with consumers in recent years. Such devices may use one of a number of different approaches to apply heat to the vapor generating material.

One approach is to provide a steam generating device in which a resistive heating system is applied. In such an apparatus, a resistance heating element is provided for heating the steam generating material, and steam is generated by heating the steam generating material by transferring heat from the heating element.

Another approach is to provide a steam generating device in which an induction heating system is applied. In such a device, the induction coil is provided with the device and the current collector is usually provided with a steam generating material. Electricity is applied to the induction coil when the user activates the device, which in turn generates an alternating electromagnetic field. The current collector interacts with the electromagnetic field and generates heat, which is transferred, for example by conduction, to the vapor generating material, and steam is generated as the vapor generating material is heated.

Whichever approach is used to heat the vapor generating material, there is a need to control the heat level in the vapor generating device and the present invention is directed towards satisfying this need.

The essence of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a steam generating system is provided, comprising:

a steam generating space for accommodating the steam generating material;

a heater for heating the steam generating material to generate the first steam;

an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air flow path connecting the air inlet and the air outlet through a steam generating space;

outer surface; and a cooling chamber containing a liquid that can evaporate to form a second vapor;

wherein the cooling chamber is located between the heater and the outer surface and/or between the air flow channel and the outer surface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a steam generating device is provided, comprising:

a steam generating space for receiving a steam generating material;

an induction coil for heating the steam generating material to generate the first steam;

an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air flow path connecting the air inlet and the air outlet through a steam generating space;

outer surface;

a cooling chamber containing a liquid that can evaporate to form a second vapor;

wherein the cooling chamber is located between the induction coil and the outer surface and/or between the air flow channel and the outer surface.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steam generating device comprising:

a steam generating space for receiving a steam generating material;

a resistance heater for heating the vapor generating material to generate the first vapor;

an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air flow path connecting the air inlet and the air outlet through a steam generating space;

outer surface;

a cooling chamber containing a liquid that can evaporate to form a second vapor;

while the cooling chamber is located between the resistance heater and the outer surface

- 1 042776 and/or between the air flow channel and the outer surface.

The vapor generating system/device is configured to heat the vapor generating material without burning the vapor generating material to vaporize at least one component of the vapor generating material and thereby generate vapor for inhalation by the user of the vapor generating system/device .

In general, vapor is a substance in the gaseous phase at a temperature that is below its critical temperature, which means that vapor can condense into a liquid by increasing its pressure without lowering its temperature, while an aerosol is a suspension of fine solids or liquid droplets in air or other gas. However, it should be noted that the terms aerosol and vapor may be used interchangeably in this specification, particularly in relation to the form of inhalable medium that is generated for inhalation by the user.

The refrigeration chamber provides an efficient way to remove heat from the steam generating system/device and thus control the heat level in the system/device as the liquid in the refrigeration chamber evaporates when the system/device is in use. In particular, the liquid in the cooling chamber evaporates to form a second vapor as it absorbs heat from the system/device, for example from system/device components such as a heater, and/or from heated vapor flowing through the airflow path. Heat is transferred from the second vapor to the surrounding air, and as the second vapor cools, it condenses back into a liquid so it can reabsorb heat from the system/device. Since heat is removed from the steam generating system/device in a controlled and uniform manner by means of the second steam in the cooling chamber, hot and cold areas are prevented from occurring on the outer surface and the user experience of the system/device is improved due to the uniform temperature on the outer surface.

The cooling chamber is a sealed cooling chamber, and the liquid can evaporate inside the cooling chamber to form a second vapor. The liquid in the cooling chamber, both in the form of a liquid and in the form of a vapor, is closed in the cooling chamber. Therefore, the cooling chamber is a sealed component and ensures reliable cooling of the system/device.

The cooling chamber may include a wick for moving liquid from a first position in the cooling chamber to a second position in the cooling chamber. The wick helps control the movement of fluid in the cooling chamber and therefore optimizes heat transfer and system/device cooling.

The first position in the cooling chamber may be closer to the outer surface than the second position in the cooling chamber. Thus, the liquid can be moved by the wick from a first position, closest to the outer surface, to a second position, which is usually closer to the heat source(s) within the system/device, such as a heater and/or an airflow duct. This ensures that the cooling chamber can operate optimally and provide optimal system/device cooling.

The liquid in the cooling chamber may have a boiling point of less than about 60°C. The boiling point may be less than about 50°C. The boiling point may be less than about 40°C. The temperature of the outer surface is influenced by the temperature of the second vapor in the cooling chamber, and the outer surface temperature can be kept at a more comfortable level for the user if the boiling point of the liquid is as defined above. The liquid may include water or ethyl alcohol. Ideally, the liquid is chosen so that it does not cause any deterioration in the performance of the wick.

The wick may have a lattice structure.

The heater may include a resistance heater. The resistive heater may include a resistive heating element.

The heater may include an inductively heated current collector, and the steam generating system may include an induction coil configured to generate an alternating electromagnetic field to inductively heat the inductively heated current collector. The cooling chamber may be located between the induction coil and the outer surface. This arrangement provides a particularly convenient method of heating the steam generating material using induction heating. The cooling chamber ensures efficient removal of heat generated inside the device due to the operation of the induction coil.

The induction coil may comprise a stranded wire or a litz cable. However, it will be appreciated that other materials may be used. The induction coil may have a substantially helical shape and may extend around the steam generation space.

The circular cross-section of the helical induction coil can facilitate the insertion of the steam generating material, or for example a steam generating article containing the steam generating material and optionally one or more of said inductively heated current collectors, into the steam generating space and guarantee uniform heating of the material, generating steam.

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The inductively heated current collector may comprise one or more of, but not limited to, aluminum, iron, nickel, stainless steel, and their alloys, such as nichrome or cupro-nickel. When an electromagnetic field is applied near it, the pantograph can generate heat due to eddy currents and magnetic hysteresis losses, leading to the conversion of electromagnetic energy into thermal energy.

The induction coil may be configured to operate, when used, with an alternating electromagnetic field having a magnetic flux density from about 20 mT to about 2.0 T at the point of greatest concentration.

The steam generating system/device may include a power supply and circuitry that may be configured to operate at high frequency. The power supply and circuitry may be configured to operate at a frequency of about 80 kHz to 500 kHz, possibly about 150 kHz to 250 kHz, possibly about 200 kHz. The power supply and circuitry may be configured to operate at a higher frequency, such as in the megahertz range, depending on the type of inductively heated current collector used.

The wick may comprise an electrically conductive material and may be configured to provide an electromagnetic shield for the induction coil. Providing an electromagnetic shield advantageously helps to reduce the leakage of the electromagnetic field generated by the induction coil. Since the wick functions as an electromagnetic shield, a separate shield is not needed, which reduces the number of components and simplifies the fabrication/structure of the system/device and enables a more compact system/device to be provided.

The wick may contain metal. Examples of suitable metals include, but are not limited to, aluminum and copper.

The wick may extend substantially across at least one side of the induction coil. The wick effectively moves the liquid. In addition, if the wick contains metal and the system/device operates on the principle of induction heating, then the shielding effect is thus maximized.

The system/device may further comprise a ferrimagnetic, non-conductive material located between the wick and the induction coil. The ferrimagnetic, non-conductive material may extend substantially across at least one side of the induction coil. Examples of suitable ferrimagnetic, non-conductive materials include, but are not limited to, ferrite, nickel-zinc ferrite, and mu-metal. The ferrimagnetic, non-conductive material further improves the electromagnetic shielding properties and, in combination with the electrically conductive material of the wick, provides a particularly effective electromagnetic shield for the induction coil.

The air flow channel may be located between the induction coil and the outer surface. This arrangement may facilitate the transfer of heat from the induction coil and thus may assist in cooling the induction coil.

The cooling chamber may include an inner wall adjacent to the induction coil, and the inner wall may contain metal. The inner wall preferably contains a metal having good thermal conductivity and electromagnetic shielding properties. An example of a suitable metal is copper. The metal inner wall can absorb heat from the induction coil and thus facilitate the transfer of heat from the induction coil and hence the cooling of the induction coil. The metal inner wall can also act as an electromagnetic shield for the induction coil and therefore help to reduce the leakage of electromagnetic waves.

The cooling chamber may be located between the outer surface and the part of the air flow channel connecting the steam generation space to the air outlet. The heat from the first steam flowing through the air flow passage is transferred to the cooling chamber, thereby helping to cool the heated first steam as it flows through the air flow passage.

The steam generating material may be any type of solid or semi-solid material. Exemplary types of vapor generating solids include powder, granules, pellets, chips, filaments, particles, gel, strips, split leaves, shredded tobacco, porous material, foam or sheets. The steam generating material may contain material of vegetable origin and in particular may contain tobacco.

The vapor generating material may contain an aerosol generating agent. Examples of aerosol forming agents include polyhydric alcohols and mixtures thereof such as glycerol or propylene glycol. Typically, the vapor generating material may have an aerosolizing agent content of from about 5% to about 50%, based on dry weight. In some embodiments, the vapor generating material may have an aerosolizing agent content of approximately 15% based on dry weight.

The steam generating article may include a breathable shell containing a mat

- 3 042776 rial generating steam. The breathable shell may comprise a breathable material that is electrically insulating and non-magnetic. The material may have high breathability to allow air to pass through the high temperature resistant material. Examples of suitable breathable materials include cellulose fibers, paper, cotton and silk. The breathable material can also act as a filter. Alternatively, the vapor generating article may comprise a vapor generating agent wrapped in paper. Alternatively, the vapor generating material may be contained within a material that is not breathable, but which contains appropriate perforations or holes to allow air to flow. The vapor generating material may be substantially in the form of a stick.

Brief description of graphic materials

In FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded view of a part of a steam generating system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 2 is a schematic, assembled view of the steam generating system shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A shown in FIG. 1;

in fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the cooling chamber identified in FIG. 1;

in fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line B-B of FIG. 2;

in fig. 6 is a schematic view of a steam generating system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and in FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a steam generating system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below by way of example only, together with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, with reference to FIG. 1-3 schematically show a first embodiment of a steam generating system 1. The steam generating system 1 comprises a steam generating device 10 and a steam generating article 24 . The steam generating device 10 has a proximal end 12 and a distal end 14 and includes a device housing 16 that contains a power source 18 and a controller 20 that can be configured to operate at high frequency. The power supply 18 typically contains one or more batteries, which may, for example, be inductively rechargeable.

The steam generating device 10 is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a generally cylindrical steam generating space 22 formed as a cavity in the device body 16 at the proximal end 12 of the steam generating device 10. The cylindrical space 22 for generating steam is configured to accommodate the material 26 that generates steam. In the illustrated embodiment, the cylindrical steam generation space 22 is configured to accommodate a generally cylindrical steam generating article 24 of appropriate shape, containing a steam generating material 26, and a heater in the form of one or more inductively heated current collectors 28. Steam generating article 24 typically comprises a non-metallic cylindrical outer shell 24a and a breathable layer or membrane 24b, 24c at the proximal and distal ends to contain the vapor generating material 26 and allow air to flow through the vapor generating article 24. The steam generating product 24 is a consumable product that may, for example, contain tobacco as the steam generating material 26 .

The steam generating device 10 comprises a helical induction coil 30 which has a circular cross section and which extends around a cylindrical space 22 for generating steam. Induction coil 30 may be powered by power supply 18 and controller 20. Controller 20 includes, among other electronic components, an inverter that is configured to convert DC from power supply 18 into high frequency AC for induction coil 30.

The steam generating device 10 includes an annular air flow passage 32 which surrounds the induction coil 30 and which is located between the induction coil 30 and the sealed annular cooling chamber 34. The annular air flow channel 32 communicates with the space 22 for generating steam.

With reference to FIG. 2 and 5, the vapor generating device 10 includes a cover 36 which is removably mounted on the body 16 of the device at the proximal end 12. The cover 36 includes radially extending air inlets 38 and a central air flow passage 40 which delivers air into the steam generating space 22, and more specifically into the steam generating article 24 through the breathable membrane 24b. The lid 32 also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal airflow channels 42 that deliver the first vapor generated during use of the device 10 from the annular airflow channel 32 to the air outlet 44 where the first vapor can be inhaled by the user.

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As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, when the induction coil 30 is energized, an alternating and time-varying electromagnetic field is created. It interacts with one or more inductively heated current collectors 28 and generates eddy currents and/or magnetic hysteresis losses in one or more inductively heated current collectors 28, which leads to their heating. Heat is then transferred from one or more inductively heated current collectors 28 to the vapor generating material 26, such as through conduction, radiation, and convection.

The inductively heated current collector(s) 28 may be in direct or indirect contact with the steam generating material 26 such that when the current collector(s) 28 is inductively heated by the induction coil 30, heat is transferred from the current collector(s) 28 to the steam generating material 26. steam to heat the steam generating material 26 and thus form the first steam. Evaporation of the vapor generating material 26 is aided by the addition of ambient air through the air inlets 38 . The first vapor generated by heating the vapor generating material 26 leaves the vapor generation space 22 through the annular air flow passage 32 and flows through the longitudinal air flow passages 42 to the air outlet 44 where it can be inhaled by the user of the apparatus 10. air through space 22 to generate steam, i. e. from the air inlets 38, through the steam generation space 22 and the annular air flow channel 32, and along the longitudinal air flow channels 42 in the lid 36 and out of the air outlet 44, may be facilitated by negative pressure generated by the user drawing air from the side of the air outlet 44 of the device 10, and shown schematically by an arrow in FIG. 2.

In particular, with reference to FIG. 1, 3 and 4, a sealed annular cooling chamber 34 is located between the induction coil 30 and the outer surface 46 of the steam generating device 10. Cooling chamber 34 contains a liquid, such as water or ethyl alcohol, which can evaporate inside cooling chamber 34 to form a second vapor, and which is trapped in cooling chamber 34 in both liquid and vapor form. More specifically, the liquid in the cooling chamber 34 absorbs heat, in particular through the inner wall 52 of the cooling chamber 34, from the heated first vapor flowing through the annular air flow passage 32, and from other component parts of the device 10, such as the induction coil 30 and the induction coil. heated pantograph(s) 28, thereby removing heat from device 10, as shown schematically by arrow 47 in FIG. 4. In order to accelerate the absorption of heat by the liquid in the cooling chamber 34, the inner wall 52 generally contains a material that has good thermal conductive properties, such as a metal such as copper.

When the liquid in the cooling chamber 34 absorbs heat and its temperature rises above its boiling point, the liquid vaporizes (ie, it turns into vapor) to form a second vapor. Heat is transferred from the second vapor to the surrounding air via the outer surface 46 of the apparatus 10, resulting in cooling of the second vapor. As the second vapor cools, it condenses back into liquid form so that the liquid can again absorb heat from the heated first vapor and other components of the device 10. Heat transfer from the second vapor occurs at the first position in the cooling chamber 34, which is near the outer surface 46 , and the flow of the second vapor within the refrigeration chamber 34 is schematically illustrated by arrows 48. As the second vapor condenses and cools, thereby returning to its liquid form, the liquid flows from a first position to a second position within the refrigeration chamber 34, which is near the inner wall 52, as shown schematically by arrows 50.

In order to facilitate the flow of condensed liquid in the cooling chamber 34 from a first position near the outer surface 46 to a second position near the inner wall 52, the cooling chamber 34 includes a cylindrical wick 54 that is located radially outward relative to the inner wall 52 and near it. In some embodiments, the wick 54 comprises an electrically conductive copper mesh (shown schematically in the figures by dashed lines 54) and advantageously also functions as an electromagnetic shield for the induction coil 30. It should be noted that the inner wall 52 may also function as an electromagnetic shield for the induction coil 30, depending on the material from which it is made. As mentioned above, the inner wall 52 may contain copper, which is an excellent material for electromagnetic shielding purposes and also has excellent thermal conductivity.

The steam generating device 10 also includes an electromagnetic shield layer 56 that is located on the outside of the induction coil 30 between the induction coil 30 and the wick 54. The shield layer 56 is made of a ferrimagnetic, non-conductive material such as ferrite, nickel-zinc ferrite, and mu- metal. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and 2, the electromagnetic shield layer 56 comprises a substantially cylindrical sleeve which is positioned radially outside the helical induction coil 30 so as to extend circumferentially around the induction coil 30.

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Now with reference to FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the steam generating system 2, which is similar to the steam generating system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1-5, and in which the corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numbers.

The steam generating system 2 includes a steam generating device 60 having an air inlet 62 that delivers air to the steam generating space 22, and more specifically to the steam generating article 24, through the breathable membrane 24c. The vapor generating device 60 further comprises a lid 64 which is removably mounted on the device body 16 at the proximal end 12. The lid 64 includes an airflow channel 66 which delivers the first vapor generated during use of the device 60 from the space 22 for generating steam to the air outlet 44 where the user can inhale the first steam.

The steam generating system 2 operates in the same manner as the steam generating system 1 described above with reference to FIG. 1-5 to heat the vapor generating material 26 and thereby generate a first vapor for inhalation by the user.

Now with reference to FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of a steam generating system 3. The steam generating system 3 shares some common features with the steam generating systems 1, 2 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-6, and the corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numbers.

The steam generating system 3 comprises a steam generating device 70 which has an integral mouthpiece 72 at the proximal end 12 of the device 70 and in which a cylindrical steam generating space 22 is located at the distal end 14 of the device 70. A cover 74 for the space 22 for generating steam is removably mounted on the housing 16 of the device at the distal end 14. Cover 74 includes air inlets 76 that allow air to flow into the space 22 for generating steam.

The steam generating space 22 is configured to accommodate the steam generating material 26 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cylindrical steam generating space 22 is configured to accommodate a generally cylindrical steam generating article 24 of appropriate shape containing the steam generating material 26. The vapor generating article 24 typically includes a non-metallic cylindrical outer shell 24a and a breathable layer or membrane 24b, 24c at the proximal and distal ends to contain the vapor generating material 26 and allow air to flow through the vapor generating article 24. The steam generating product 24 is a consumable product that may, for example, contain tobacco as the steam generating material 26 .

The steam generating device 70 includes a resistive heater 78, for example comprising a resistive heating element, which is positioned radially outside the steam generating space 22 and which extends around the steam generating space 22.

During operation of the steam generating system 3, an electric current is supplied to the resistance heater 78, causing it to heat up. Heat from the resistance heater 78 is transferred to the vapor generating material 26, for example, by conduction, radiation, and convection, to heat the vapor generating material 26 and thus form the first vapor. Evaporation of the vapor generating material 26 is aided by the addition of ambient air through the air inlets 76 .

The first vapor generated by heating the vapor generating material 26 then leaves the heating compartment 22 through the breathable layer 24b, flows through the air flow passage 80 and through the air outlet 44 where it is inhaled by the user of the device 70 through the mouthpiece 72. It will be understood that the flow of air through the space 22 to generate steam can be facilitated by the negative pressure generated by the user drawing in air from the outlet side of the device 70 using the mouthpiece 72.

The steam generating device 70 includes a sealed annular cooling chamber 34 which is located between the air flow channel 80 and the outer surface 46 of the steam generating device 70. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular cooling chamber 34 extends longitudinally along substantially the entire length of the airflow channel 80, although in other embodiments it may extend along only a portion of the airflow channel 80. As the heated first vapor flows through the airflow passage 80 during operation of the device 70, the liquid in the cooling chamber 34 absorbs heat from the first vapor through the inner wall 52, thereby cooling the first vapor in the manner described above with reference to FIG. . 1-6, and ensuring that the first vapor delivered by the air outlet 44 to the user's mouth has optimal performance.

While exemplary embodiments have been described in the preceding paragraphs, it should be understood that various modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the scope and scope of the claims should not be limited to the illustrative embodiments described above.

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Claims (12)

The present invention covers any combination of the above features in all their possible variations, unless otherwise indicated in this description or there is no clear conflict with the context. Unless the context clearly implies otherwise, throughout the description and claims, the words contain, containing, etc. should be considered in an inclusive, not exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is, in the sense of including but not limited to. CLAIM 1. System (1, 2, 3) generating steam, containing: body (16); a space (22) inside the steam generating housing for accommodating the steam generating material (26); a heater (28, 78) for heating the steam generating material to generate the first steam, installed in the housing; an air inlet (38, 62, 76), an air outlet (44), and an air flow path (32, 66, 80) connecting the air inlet and the air outlet through the steam generation space; and a sealed chamber (34) cooling containing liquid, which evaporates when using the system with the formation of the second vapor; while the chamber has a heat-conducting wall (52) located near the heater and/or part of the specified channel for the air flow passing from the specified space (22) to the outlet (44), and the heat-conducting wall formed by the wall (46) of the housing, the outer surface which forms the outer surface of the system. 2. The steam generating system of the preceding claim, wherein the boiling point of the liquid is less than about 60°C, preferably less than about 50°C, preferably less than about 40°C. 3. Steam generating system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cooling chamber (34) comprises a wick (54) for moving liquid from a first position in the cooling chamber to a second position in the cooling chamber. 4. Steam generating system according to claim 3, characterized in that the first position in the cooling chamber (34) is closer to the outer surface (46) than the second position in the cooling chamber. 5. Steam generating system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the wick (54) has a lattice structure. 6. The steam generating system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heater comprises an inductively heated current collector (28) and the steam generating system comprises an induction coil (30) configured to generate an alternating electromagnetic field for inductively heated inductively a heated current collector, while the wall (52) of the cooling chamber (34) is located near the induction coil. 7. Steam generating system according to claim 6 depending on any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the wick (54) contains an electrically conductive material and is configured to provide an electromagnetic shield for the induction coil (30). 8. Steam generating system according to claim 6 depending on any one of claims 3 to 5 or according to claim 7, characterized in that the wick (54) extends substantially across at least one side of the induction coil (30). 9. The steam generating system according to claim 6, depending on any one of claims 3 to 5 or according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it further comprises a ferrimagnetic, non-conductive material (56) located between the wick (54 ) and the induction coil (30) and extending substantially across at least one side of the induction coil. 10. Steam generating system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the air flow channel (32) is located between the induction coil (30) and the housing wall (46). 11. A steam generating system according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the wall (52) of the chamber near the induction coil (30) contains a metal having good electromagnetic shielding properties. 12. Device (10, 60), generating steam, containing: body (16); a space (22) inside the steam generating housing for accommodating the steam generating material (26); an induction coil (30) for heating the steam generating material (26) to generate the first steam, installed in the housing; an air inlet (38, 62), an air outlet (44), and an air flow path (32, 66) connecting the air inlet and the air outlet through the steam generation space; And -