EP3973798A1

EP3973798A1 - Atomizing device for liquid recycling and utilization

Info

Publication number: EP3973798A1
Application number: EP20939836.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ping Chen
Original assignee: Shenzhen Huachengda Precision Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Huachengda Precision Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-09
Filing date: 2020-06-09
Publication date: 2022-03-30
Also published as: WO2021248334A1; US20220248756A1; EP3973798A4

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a liquid recycling atomization device, which includes a housing, a liquid conducting member and a heating element arranged on the liquid conducting member. A liquid storage cavity is arranged in the housing such that liquid in the liquid storage cavity can be conducted through the liquid conducting member to the heating element for heating and atomization. An air inlet and an air outlet are formed in the housing such that air can enter from the air inlet and smoke can flow out through the air outlet. The device further includes a liquid absorbing structure surrounding the air inlet for absorbing the condensate around the air inlet. The liquid absorbing structure is in contact with the liquid conducting member, so that the liquid conducting member absorbs the condensate absorbed by the liquid absorbing structure, and then the heating element heats and atomizes the condensate. The liquid absorbing structure can absorb the condensate in the device. The liquid absorbing structure is contacted with the conductive liquid, when the heating element is heated, the liquid in the liquid conducting member is consumed, and the liquid conducting member can suck back the condensate in the liquid absorbing structure, realizing the recycling of the condensate.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of atomization technology, and more particularly, to a liquid recycling atomization device.

BACKGROUND

Currently, electronic cigarette vaporizers used in the field of electronic cigarette vaporization generally have the problem of leakage of condensate. How is the condensate produced? The atomization principle of an electronic cigarette is to vaporize the smoke liquid into high-temperature atomized steam through electric heating. The high-temperature atomized steam contacts an inner wall of an airflow channel inside a cartridge when flowing in the airflow channel. Condensed liquid may be generated when the high-temperature atomized steam encounters the inner wall of the airflow channel having the normal temperature. When the condensed liquid inside the cartridge increases, it will gather together and flows out of the air inlet formed in a base of the cartridge into a battery located in a cigarette rod to damage the battery and electronic parts, or, the condensed liquid may enter the user's mouth from an air outlet when the user smokes the electronic cigarette, causing a poor user experience.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The technical problem solved by the present disclosure is that, aiming to the above defect in the prior art, providing an improved liquid recycling atomization device.
By solving the above technical problem, the present disclosure provides a liquid recycling atomization device, including a housing, a liquid conducting member, and a heating element arranged on the liquid conducting member; a liquid storage cavity being formed in the housing such that liquid in the liquid storage cavity can be conducted through the liquid conducting member to the heating element for heating and atomization; an air inlet and an air outlet being formed in the housing such that air can enter the housing from the air inlet and smoke can flow out of housing through the air outlet; wherein the liquid recycling atomization device further includes a liquid absorbing structure arranged on an outer periphery of the air inlet to absorb the liquid on the outer periphery of the air inlet; the liquid absorbing structure is connected with the liquid conducting member such that the liquid conducting member can absorb the liquid absorbed by the liquid absorbing structure and thus the liquid can be heated and atomized by the heating element.
In an embodiment, wherein the liquid conducting member is a hard porous liquid conducting member.
In an embodiment, the liquid absorbing structure and the liquid conducting member are independently formed.
In an embodiment, the liquid absorbing structure is a soft porous structure.
In an embodiment, the liquid absorbing structure is connected with the liquid conducting member by being in contact with the liquid conducting member.
In an embodiment, the liquid absorbing structure and the liquid conducting member are integrally formed.
In an embodiment, the liquid absorbing structure is a protrusion extending from the liquid conducting member.
In an embodiment, the liquid recycling atomization device includes a liquid storage cup and a base covering an opening of the liquid storage cup, and the liquid absorbing structure is located between the liquid conducting member and the base.
In an embodiment, inside the liquid recycling atomization device, an annular air inlet protrusion surrounding the air inlet is arranged on an outer periphery of the air inlet.
In an embodiment, the air inlet protrusion has a height of at least 0.5 mm.
In an embodiment, the liquid recycling atomization device includes a sealing member for sealing the opening of the liquid storage cup; an air vent is formed in the sealing member such that an airflow entering the housing can pass through the air vent; and an annular vent protrusion surrounding the air vent is arranged on an outer periphery of the air vent.
In an embodiment, the vent protrusion has a height of at least 0.5 mm.
In an embodiment, the sealing member includes a first inclined surface inclined outwards, and the first inclined surface is arranged on a side of the sealing member where the air vent is formed, such that the liquid on the first inclined surface can flow to a lower position along the first inclined surface and get away from the air vent.
In an embodiment, a height difference of the first inclined surface is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm.
In an embodiment, the liquid absorbing structure is arranged at a lower position of the first inclined surface to absorb the liquid flowing to the lower position of the first inclined surface.
In an embodiment, the air inlet and the air vent are staggered from each other.
The liquid absorbing structure can absorb the condensate in the device. The liquid absorbing structure is in contact with the conductive liquid, when the ceramic heating body is working, the heating element is heated, the liquid in the liquid conducting member is consumed, and the liquid conducting member can suck back the condensate in the liquid absorbing structure, realizing the recycling of the condensate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompany drawings and the embodiments, wherein in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a three dimensional view of a liquid recycling atomization device in an exploded state according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of a part A in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top view of a liquid recycling atomization device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4 is an orthographic perspective view of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 1 in an exploded state;
FIG. 5 is a cross section of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 4 in an exploded state (cutting along the line A-A in FIG. 3);
FIG. 6 is a cross section of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 1 (cutting along the line A-A in FIG. 3);
FIG. 7 is another cross section of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 6 (cutting along the line B-B in FIG. 3);
FIG. 8 is a three dimensional view of a base of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a three dimensional view of a sealing member of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is an orthographic view of the sealing member of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a three dimensional view of a liquid recycling atomization device in an exploded state according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view of a part B in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is an orthographic perspective view of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 11 in an exploded state;
FIG. 14 is a cross section of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 11 in an exploded state (cutting along the line A-A in FIG. 3);
FIG. 15 is a cross section of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 11 (cutting along the line A-A in FIG. 3);
FIG. 16 is another cross section of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 11 (cutting along the line B-B in FIG. 3);
FIG. 17 is a three dimensional view of a liquid recycling atomization device in an exploded state according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 18 is an orthographic perspective view of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 17 in an exploded state;
FIG. 19 is a cross section of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 18 in an exploded state (cutting along the line A-A in FIG. 3);
FIG. 20 is a cross section of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 17 (cutting along the line A-A in FIG. 3);
FIG. 21 is another cross section of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 17 (cutting along the line B-B position in FIG. 3);
FIG. 22 is a three dimensional view of a base of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIGS. 11 and 17;
FIG. 23 is a cross section of the base of the liquid recycling atomization device of FIG. 21.

The reference marks in the drawings:

housing, 1;
liquid storage cavity, 11;
air inlet, 12;
air inlet protrusion, 12a;
air outlet, 13;
liquid storage cup, 14;
base, 15;
liquid conducting member, 2;
heating element, 3;
liquid absorbing structure, 4;
sealing member, 5;
first inclined surface, 5a;
air vent, 51;
vent protrusion, 51a;
cavity sealer, 6;
fixed upper cover, 7; and
liquid conduct sealer, 8.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For clearly understanding technical features, purpose, and effect of the present disclosure, embodiments are given in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the orientation or the position relationship indicated by relative terms such as "front", "back", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "longitudinal", "lateral", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "front", and "rear" should be construed to refer to the orientation or the position relationship as then described or as illustrated in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the present disclosure be constructed or operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present disclosure.
It is further noted that, in the present disclosure, unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted", "connected", "coupled", "fixed", "arranged" and the like are used broadly, and can be, for example, fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; can also be mechanical or electrical connections; can also be direct connections or indirect connections via intervening structures; can also be inner communications of two elements. When one component is described to be "located on" or "located under" another component, it means that the component can be "directly" or "indirectly" located on another component, or there may be one or more intervening component located therebetween. The terms "first", "second", "third" and the like are only used for the convenience of describing the technical solution, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying the relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, features defined with "first", "second", "third", etc. may explicitly or implicitly indicates that one or more of these features can be included. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meaning of the above-mentioned terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.
In the description hereinbelow, for purposes of explanation rather than limitation, specific details such as specific systematic architectures and techniques are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present application. However, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that the present application may also be implemented in absence of such specific details in other embodiments. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present application with unnecessary detail.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 23, a liquid recycling atomization device in a first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing 1, a liquid conducting member 2, and a heating element 3 arranged on the liquid conducting member 2. The liquid conducting member 2 and the heating element 3 are arranged in the housing 1. A liquid storage cavity 11 is formed in the housing 1 such that the liquid in the liquid storage cavity 11 can pass through the liquid conducting member 2 to reach the heating element 3 for heating and atomization. An air inlet 12 and an air outlet 13 are formed in the housing 1 such that air can enter the housing 1 through the air inlet 12 and the smoke can be taken out of the housing 1 through the air outlet 13. A liquid absorbing structure 4 is arranged on an outer periphery of the air inlet 12 to absorb the liquid around the air inlet 12. The liquid absorbing structure 4 is connected with the liquid conducting member 2 such that the liquid conducting member 2 can absorb the liquid absorbed by the liquid absorbing structure 4 and thus the liquid can be heated and atomized by the heating element 3. The heating element 3 may be a heating sheet. The liquid absorbing structure 4 can absorb condensate or other liquids in the atomization device. The liquid absorbing structure 4 is in contact with the liquid conducting member 2. When the heating element 3 is working, the heating element 3 is heated to atomize the liquid and thus the liquid in the liquid conducting member 2 is consumed. The liquid conducting member 2 can suck back the condensate or other liquids in the liquid absorbing structure 4 to realize the recycling of the condensate or other liquids.
The liquid conducting member 2 is a hard porous liquid conducting member, in other words, the liquid conducting member 2 is made of hard porous material; the numerous holes of the liquid conducting member 2 can conduct the liquid. The hard porous liquid conducting member can be made of porous ceramic.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10, in the first embodiment, the liquid absorbing structure 4 and the liquid conducting member 2 are independently formed.
The liquid absorbing structure 4 is a soft porous structure, in an embodiment, the liquid absorbing structure 4 can be a porous liquid storage cotton and the numerous pores thereof can absorb liquid. The liquid absorbing structure 4 is connected with the liquid conducting member 2 by being in contact with the liquid conducting member 2.
Referring to FIGS. 11 to 16, in a second embodiment, the liquid absorbing structure 4 and the liquid conducting member 2 are integrated. For example, when the liquid conducting member 2 is made of hard porous material, the liquid conducting member 2 and the liquid absorbing structure 4 are integrally made of hard porous material. The liquid absorbing structure 4 is a protrusion extending from the liquid conducting member 2.
The heating element 3 is arranged on one side of the liquid conducting member 2, and the liquid absorbing structure 4 is arranged on the side of the liquid conducting member 2 where the heating element 3 is arranged. Compared with the connection position of the heating element 3 and the liquid conducting member 2, the connection position of the liquid absorbing structure 4 and the liquid conducting member 2 is relatively closer to an outer edge of the liquid conducting member 2. In an embodiment, at least a part of the liquid absorbing structure 4 is in contact with the outer edge of the liquid conducting member 2. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 23, the number of the liquid absorbing structure 4 is but not limited to two, and the two liquid absorbing structures 4 are located on two sides of the heating element 3, respectively.
The liquid recycling atomization device includes a liquid storage cup 14 and a base 15 covering an opening of the liquid storage cup 14. The liquid absorbing structure 4 is located between the liquid conducting member 2 and the base 15.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10, in the first embodiment, an annular air inlet protrusion 12a surrounding the air inlet 12 is arranged on the outer periphery of the air inlet 12 inside the liquid recycling atomization device. In other words, the air inlet 12 is raised so that the liquid can be prevented from leaking through the air inlet 12. In an embodiment, the air inlet protrusion 12a has a height of at least 0.5 mm.
The housing 1 includes:

a liquid storage cup 14, wherein the liquid storage cavity 11 is arranged in the liquid storage cup 14, and the opening of the liquid storage cup 14 faces downwards; and
a base 15 covering the opening of the liquid storage cup 14, wherein the air inlet 12 and the air inlet protrusion 12a are arranged on the base 15, and the inside of the liquid storage cup 14 communicates with the outside through the air inlet 12.

The liquid recycling atomization device includes a sealing member 5 that seals the opening of the liquid storage cup 14. An air vent 51 is formed in the sealing member 5 such that airflow entering from the air inlet 12 can pass through the air vent 51. An annular vent protrusion 51a surrounding the air vent 51 is arranged on an outer periphery of the air vent 51, in other words, the air vent 51 is raised to prevent the liquid from leaking through the air inlet 12. In an embodiment, the vent protrusion 51a has a height of at least 0.5 mm.
The sealing member 5 includes a first inclined surface 5a inclined outwards. The first inclined surface 5a is defined on a side of the sealing member 5 where the air vent 51 is formed and is located on an outer periphery of the air vent 51, such that the liquid can flow to a lower position along the first inclined surface 5a and get away from the air vent 51, preventing the liquid from leaking through the air vent 51. In an embodiment, a height difference of the first inclined surface 5a is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm.
The liquid absorbing structure 4 is arranged at the lower position of the first inclined surface 5a to absorb the liquid flowing to the lower position along the first inclined surface 5a. The air inlet 12 and the air vent 51 of the sealing member 5 are staggered from each other.
Referring to FIGS. 11 to 23, in the second and third embodiments, in the liquid recycling atomization device, a second inclined surface 15a inclined outwards is defined on an outer periphery of the air inlet 12, such that liquid can flow to a lower position along the second inclined surface 15a and get away from the air inlet 12, preventing the liquid from leaking through the air inlet 12.
The liquid absorbing structure 4 is arranged at the lower position of the second inclined surface 15a to absorb the liquid flowing to the lower position along the second inclined surface 15a.
The housing 1 includes:

a liquid storage cup 14; and
a base 15 covering the opening of the liquid storage cup 14, wherein the air inlet 12 and the second inclined surface 15a are formed on the base 15, the inside of the liquid storage cup 14 communicates with the outside through the air inlet 12, and the second inclined surface 15a is defined on the base 15.

In an embodiment, the liquid recycling atomization device further includes a sealing member 5, which can be a sealing ring, arranged between the opening of the liquid storage cup 14 and the base 15 to prevent liquid leakage.
When the liquid recycling atomization device is in use, air enters the device through the air inlet 12, passes through the air vent 51 of the sealing member 5 and then reaches the bottom of the heating element 3. The liquid in the liquid storage cavity 11 is conducted to the heating element 3 at the bottom of the device through the liquid conducting member 2. When the liquid recycling atomization device is energized, the heating element 3 starts to be heated. The high temperature vaporizes the liquid on the heating element 3 into atomized airflow, and the atomized airflow passes by a cavity sealer 6, a fixed upper cover 7, and a liquid conduct sealer 8, passes through a roundabout airflow channel defined in the fixed upper cover 7 and an airflow channel defined in the liquid storage cup 14, and finally flows out of the device through the air outlet 13.
An airflow direction of the first embodiment is shown by the arrow in FIG. 7, an airflow direction of the second embodiment is shown by the arrow in FIG. 16, and an airflow direction of the third embodiment is shown by the arrow in FIG. 21.
The liquid absorbing structure 4 can absorb the condensate or other liquids in the liquid recycling atomization device. The liquid absorbing structure 4 is in contact with the liquid conducting member 2. When the heating element 3 is working, the heating element 3 is heated to atomize the liquid, thus, the liquid in the liquid conducting member 2 is consumed. The liquid conducting member 2 can suck back the condensate or other liquids in the liquid absorbing structure 4 to realize the recycling of the condensate or other liquids.
The liquid recycling atomization device can be applied to the atomization of smoke liquid, and the smoke liquid is stored in the liquid storage cavity 11.
The foregoing descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can have various modifications, combinations and changes. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A liquid recycling atomization device, comprising a housing (1), a liquid conducting member (2), and a heating element (3) arranged on the liquid conducting member (2); a liquid storage cavity (11) being formed in the housing (1) such that liquid in the liquid storage cavity (11) can be conducted through the liquid conducting member (2) to the heating element (3) for heating and atomization; an air inlet (12) and an air outlet (13) being formed in the housing (1) such that air can enter the housing (1) from the air inlet (12) and smoke can flow out of housing (1) through the air outlet (13); wherein the liquid recycling atomization device further comprises a liquid absorbing structure (4) arranged on an outer periphery of the air inlet (12) to absorb the liquid on the outer periphery of the air inlet (12); the liquid absorbing structure (4) is connected with the liquid conducting member (2) such that the liquid conducting member (2) can absorb the liquid absorbed by the liquid absorbing structure (4) and thus the liquid can be heated and atomized by the heating element (3).
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid conducting member (2) is a hard porous liquid conducting member.
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbing structure (4) and the liquid conducting member (2) are independently formed.
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 3, wherein the liquid absorbing structure (4) is a soft porous structure.
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 3, wherein the liquid absorbing structure (4) is connected with the liquid conducting member (2) by being in contact with the liquid conducting member (2).
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbing structure (4) and the liquid conducting member (2) are integrally formed.
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 6, wherein the liquid absorbing structure (4) is a protrusion extending from the liquid conducting member (2).
The liquid recycling atomization device according to any one of claim 3 to 7, wherein the liquid recycling atomization device comprises a liquid storage cup (14) and a base (15) covering an opening of the liquid storage cup (14), and the liquid absorbing structure (4) is located between the liquid conducting member (2) and the base (15).
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 8, wherein, inside the liquid recycling atomization device, an annular air inlet protrusion (12a) surrounding the air inlet (12) is arranged on an outer periphery of the air inlet (12).
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 9, wherein the air inlet protrusion (12a) has a height of at least 0.5 mm.
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 9, wherein the liquid recycling atomization device comprises a sealing member (5) for sealing the opening of the liquid storage cup (14); an air vent (51) is formed in the sealing member (5) such that an airflow entering the housing (1) can pass through the air vent (51); and an annular vent protrusion (51a) surrounding the air vent (51) is arranged on an outer periphery of the air vent (51).
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 11, wherein the vent protrusion (51a) has a height of at least 0.5 mm.
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 11, wherein the sealing member (5) comprises a first inclined surface (5a) inclined outwards, and the first inclined surface (5a) is arranged on a side of the sealing member (5) where the air vent (51) is formed, such that the liquid on the first inclined surface (5a) can flow to a lower position along the first inclined surface (5a) and get away from the air vent (51).
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 13, wherein a height difference of the first inclined surface (5a) is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm.
The liquid recycling atomization device according to claim 14, wherein the liquid absorbing structure (4) is arranged at a lower position of the first inclined surface (5a) to absorb the liquid flowing to the lower position of the first inclined surface (5a).
The liquid recycling atomization device according to any one of claim 11 to 15, wherein the air inlet (12) and the air vent (51) are staggered from each other.