EP4169395A1 - Aerosol generating device and aerosol electronic inhaler - Google Patents
Aerosol generating device and aerosol electronic inhaler Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4169395A1 EP4169395A1 EP21825820.0A EP21825820A EP4169395A1 EP 4169395 A1 EP4169395 A1 EP 4169395A1 EP 21825820 A EP21825820 A EP 21825820A EP 4169395 A1 EP4169395 A1 EP 4169395A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- liquid
- cavity
- liquid holder
- generation apparatus
- vaporization
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 135
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 296
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 114
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 113
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 83
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 30
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 30
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims description 18
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 abstract description 5
- 230000005291 magnetic effect Effects 0.000 description 12
- 239000006200 vaporizer Substances 0.000 description 11
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 229920000742 Cotton Polymers 0.000 description 5
- SNICXCGAKADSCV-JTQLQIEISA-N (-)-Nicotine Chemical compound CN1CCC[C@H]1C1=CC=CN=C1 SNICXCGAKADSCV-JTQLQIEISA-N 0.000 description 4
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 239000003571 electronic cigarette Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002657 fibrous material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229960002715 nicotine Drugs 0.000 description 3
- SNICXCGAKADSCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N nicotine Natural products CN1CCCC1C1=CC=CN=C1 SNICXCGAKADSCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000013013 elastic material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910000838 Al alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910000990 Ni alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000297 Rayon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011358 absorbing material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000889 atomisation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003302 ferromagnetic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011152 fibreglass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910000623 nickel–chromium alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000005457 optimization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000013618 particulate matter Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000002964 rayon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000391 smoking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012780 transparent material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F40/48—Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
- A24F40/485—Valves; Apertures
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F40/42—Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F40/44—Wicks
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
Definitions
- Embodiments of this application relate to the field of e-cigarettes, and specifically, to an aerosol generation apparatus and an electronic aerosol inhaler.
- a typical vaporizer generally has a function of accommodating a liquid substrate, which includes a reservoir for accommodating a liquid and a vaporization element for evaporating the liquid.
- the vaporization element is generally implemented as a resistive heater such as a heating wire coil.
- the power supply apparatus generally includes a battery for supplying power to the vaporization element and a control portion for controlling output power of the battery. In existing products, the power supply apparatus generally includes an airflow sensor.
- the power supply apparatus may activate the vaporizer to work by detecting when a user performs inhalation on an inhaler through an airflow sensor, to control the battery to supply power to the vaporization element. This activation causes the vaporization element to evaporate a small amount of liquid from the reservoir, which is inhaled by the user together with an airflow after aerosols are generated.
- Such vaporizer is generally configured for one-time use and may be discarded to replace a new vaporizer when internal liquid is exhausted.
- a disposable vaporizer consumers expect a good inhalation feeling, and a total particulate matter (TPM) of aerosols is an important factor affecting the inhalation feeling.
- TPM total particulate matter
- patent application CN108883242A discloses a stream supply system, including a flat-shaped container for liquid storage, in which a cotton core having a strong absorbing capacity is used to guide the liquid to a heating wire coil for vaporization. In this way, liquid may be adequately supplied during inhalation, so that the user may obtain a desired TPM.
- the technical problem to be solved by this application is to overcome defects in the related art, and provide an aerosol generation apparatus and an electronic aerosol inhaler which can obtain a desired TPM value while reduce the probability of inhaling an incompletely vaporized liquid substrate during inhalation as much as possible.
- the aerosol generation apparatus includes: a shell having an open end, where the shell extends in an axial direction and has a substrate cavity for accommodating a liquid substrate; a first liquid holder, connected to the open end of the shell, where the first liquid holder includes a body and a support portion extending from the body into the substrate cavity; a vaporization element, held by the support portion and configured to vaporize the liquid substrate to generate aerosols; a second liquid holder, provided with an aerosol outlet, where the second liquid holder fits with the support portion of the first liquid holder to define a vaporization cavity, and the vaporization element is at least partially located in the vaporization cavity; and at least one air inlet, configured to guide external air into the aerosol generation apparatus, where an airflow buffer cavity in fluid communication with the air inlet is formed in the body of the first liquid holder, and the airflow buffer cavity is located upstream of the vaporization cavity.
- the first liquid holder has a first width dimension perpendicular to the axial direction, and an extension width of the airflow buffer cavity in a first width direction is greater than an extension width of the vaporization cavity in the first width direction.
- the vaporization cavity is in fluid communication with the airflow buffer cavity through an airflow hole, and the air inlet and the airflow hole are staggered in the axial direction.
- the first liquid holder has a second width dimension perpendicular to the axial direction, a second width direction is perpendicular to the first width direction, and a maximum dimension of the first liquid holder in the second width direction is less than a maximum dimension in the first width direction.
- a ratio of the maximum dimension of the first liquid holder in the second width direction to the maximum dimension in the first width direction is in a range of 0.2 to 0.4.
- the airflow buffer cavity runs through the body in the second width direction.
- a first blocking wall and a second blocking wall are spaced apart in the airflow buffer cavity to sequentially divide the airflow buffer cavity into a first buffer cavity, a second buffer cavity, and athird buffer cavity, the second buffer cavity is located between the first buffer cavity and the third buffer cavity and is in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity, and both the first blocking wall and the second blocking wall are provided with notches for transferring an airflow.
- a notch on the first blocking wall and a notch on the second blocking wall are respectively adjacent to opposite sides of the body and spaced apart from each other.
- a first seal member and a second seal member are arranged between the first liquid holder and the shell, and the airflow buffer cavity is located between the first seal member and the second seal member.
- a first accommodating groove for accommodating the first seal member and a second accommodating groove for accommodating the second seal member are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the first liquid holder, and an axial depth of the first accommodating groove is greater than an axial depth of the second accommodating groove.
- the first seal member is in a shape of a ring belt, and the first seal member includes at least two seal ribs for abutting against an inner wall of the shell.
- the first seal member is formed by at least a part of the second liquid holder extending toward the first liquid holder.
- the first liquid holder further includes a substantially cylindrical extension portion extending from the body to the substrate cavity, and the first accommodating groove is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the extension portion.
- the vaporization element includes a liquid guide core body and a heating wire surrounding the liquid guide core body, and the second liquid holder fits with the first liquid holder to clamp the liquid guide core body.
- the support portion includes a first support arm and a second support arm opposite to each other, a trench for accommodating the liquid guide core body is provided on the first support arm and the second support arm, and the liquid guide core body is accommodated in the trench and an end portion of the liquid guide core body extends into the substrate cavity.
- a vent tube for discharging aerosols is further arranged in the substrate cavity, and an end portion of the vent tube is connected to the aerosol outlet of the second liquid holder.
- the first liquid holder further includes an extension portion extending from the body to the substrate cavity, the extension portion and the support portion define a liquid slowing cavity, and an end portion of the liquid guide core body extends into the liquid slowing cavity.
- At least one liquid guide hole for guiding the liquid substrate to flow into the liquid slowing cavity is provided on the second liquid holder.
- the second liquid holder is configured as an elastic body and has a joint surface matching an outer peripheral surface of the liquid guide core body.
- the first liquid holder is configured as a rigid body
- the second liquid holder is configured as an elastic body fitting with the first liquid holder
- both the first liquid holder and the second liquid holder define a transfer path in which the liquid substrate flows from the substrate cavity into the vaporization cavity.
- the shell is at least partially configured to be transparent or translucent, to view the airflow buffer cavity through an outer surface of the shell.
- the aerosol generation apparatus in this embodiment includes: a reservoir, including a shell, where the shell is provided with a substrate cavity for accommodating a liquid substrate and defines a vent tube for discharging aerosols; a first liquid holder configured as a rigid body, connected to the reservoir; a vaporization element, including a liquid guide core body and a heating body for heating a liquid substrate from the liquid guide core body to generate aerosols; and a second liquid holder configured as an elastic body, including an aerosol outlet in communication with the vent tube, where the second liquid holder fits with the first liquid holder to define a vaporization cavity and a transfer path in communication with the vaporization cavity and the substrate cavity, and the liquid guide core body transfers the liquid substrate through the transfer path, where the first liquid holder is provided with at least one air inlet and an airflow buffer cavity in fluid communication with the air inlet, and the airflow buffer cavity is in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity to introduce an airflow into the vaporization cavity.
- the first liquid holder includes a support portion for holding the liquid guide core body, and the second liquid holder is provided with a groove for accommodating at least a part of the support portion.
- the aerosol generation apparatus in this embodiment includes: a shell, where the shell is provided with a substrate cavity for accommodating a liquid substrate, the shell includes a front surface and a rear surface opposite to each other, and the front surface and the rear surface are at least partially transparent or translucent; a first liquid holder, connected to the shell, where the first liquid holder includes a body and a support portion extending from the body into the substrate cavity; a vaporization element, held by the support portion and configured to vaporize the liquid substrate to generate aerosols; a second liquid holder, provided with an aerosol outlet, where the second liquid holder fits with the support portion of the first liquid holder to define a vaporization cavity, and the vaporization element is at least partially located in the vaporization cavity; and at least one air inlet, configured to guide external air into the aerosol generation apparatus, where an airflow buffer cavity in fluid communication with the air inlet is formed in the first liquid holder, and the airflow buffer cavity is in fluid communication with the
- This application further provides an embodiment of an electronic aerosol inhaler including a vaporization apparatus and a power supply apparatus for supplying power to the vaporization apparatus.
- the vaporization apparatus may be the aerosol generation apparatus involved in the foregoing embodiments and optimization solutions.
- the power supply apparatus includes a power supply housing and a battery located in the power supply housing, an accommodating cavity is provided at an end of the power supply housing, and the aerosol generation apparatus is capable of being at least partially inserted into the accommodating cavity, to maintain an electrical connection to the power supply apparatus.
- the aerosol generation apparatus includes a first liquid holder and a second liquid holder.
- the first liquid holder fits with the second liquid holder to define a vaporization cavity, and an airflow buffer cavity in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity is formed in the first liquid holder. Therefore, the airflow buffer cavity may increase an appropriate inhalation resistance and an amount of air stored in an upstream space of the vaporization cavity, to ensure that an airflow can smoothly flow into the vaporization cavity, and leakage of non-vaporized liquid substrates is reduced, so that inhalation of liquid substrates of large particles by the user may be avoided while a larger TPM may be obtained, thereby providing a good taste.
- the aerosol generation apparatus may be, for example, a vaporizer or another nicotine delivery apparatus, or may be another vaporization apparatus including volatile components inhalable by a human body that is configured for an e-cigarette.
- the aerosol generation apparatus 10 is a vaporizer for an e-cigarette.
- the aerosol generation apparatus 10 includes a reservoir 100, a first liquid holder 200 and a second liquid holder 300 connected to the reservoir 100, and a vaporization element in the reservoir 100.
- the reservoir 100 includes a flat-shaped shell 101, and a substrate cavity for accommodating a liquid substrate is included in the shell 101.
- the vaporization element is configured to vaporize the liquid substrate to form aerosols inhalable by a user.
- the liquid substrate may be a liquid including nicotine, nicotine salt, or other volatile components that can be biologically absorbed by the human body.
- the first liquid holder 200 and the second liquid holder 300 fit with the shell 101 to hold the liquid substrate inside the substrate cavity, to prevent the liquid substrate from leaking outside the shell 101 or into an airflow channel in the shell.
- the aerosol generation apparatus 10 includes a plurality of surfaces extending in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction, where the surfaces are formed with corresponding dimensions.
- the shell 101 extends in an axial direction (Z-axis direction) and includes a front surface 1011 and a rear surface 1012 that are opposite to each other in the Y-axis direction, a first side surface 1013 and a second side surface 1014 located between the front surface 1011 and the rear surface 1012, and an upper end surface 1015 located upstream and an open end 1016 located downstream.
- a width dimension of surfaces of the shell 101 extending in the X-axis direction is significantly greater than a width dimension extending in the Y-axis direction, to visually construct a flat shape.
- the first liquid holder 200 is inserted into the open end 1016 of the shell 101 and is connected to the open end 1016, to hold other components inside the shell 101.
- Both the front surface 1011 and the rear surface 1012 are provided with two openings 1017 or grooves that are spaced apart from each other.
- An outer side surface of the first liquid holder 200 is provided with buckles 201 correspondingly protruded, and the buckles 201 are fitted with the openings 1017 or the grooves to mount the first liquid holder 200 on the shell 101.
- the openings or grooves may also be provided on the first side surface 1013 and the second side surface 1014, and the shell 101 is connected to the first liquid holder 200 through the first side surface 1013 and the second side surface 1014.
- a magnetic element 50a and a magnetic element 50b that are symmetric along a Y-Z axis plane are mounted on an end surface of the first liquid holder 200.
- the magnetic element 50a and the magnetic element 50b may be a magnet or a ferromagnetic material capable of attracting magnets, and the aerosol generation apparatus 10 is physically connected to the power supply apparatus through the magnetic element 50a and the magnetic element 50b.
- a pair of electrodes 60a and 60b are further mounted on the end surface of the first liquid holder 200.
- the electrode 60a and the electrode 60b are located between the magnetic element 50a and the magnetic element 50b and are also symmetrical along the Y-Z axis plane.
- the electrode 60a and the electrode 60b are configured to be connected to positive and negative poles of the power supply apparatus, to supply current to the vaporization element.
- the shell 101 is at least partially transparent or translucent, for example, a transparent plastic shell.
- the shell 101 may be made of transparent or translucent plastic materials such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate-1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol (PCTG).
- PP polypropylene
- PCTG polyethylene terephthalate-1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol
- the user may observe a condition in the shell 101 through the surface of the shell 101, such as the front surface 1011 or the rear surface 1012.
- the user may observe a capacity of the liquid substrate in the substrate cavity through a transparent shell, and an airflow channel in the shell may be viewed through the transparent shell.
- FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C show external schematic diagrams of the aerosol generation apparatus 10 from various perspectives.
- the surfaces of the shell 101 form different width dimensions in a Z direction, including a first portion 104 and a second portion 103 whose outer surface dimension is relatively reduced.
- the first portion 104 and the second portion 103 may be integrally formed by using transparent plastic.
- the second portion 103 may be inserted and hidden in the power supply apparatus, and the first portion 104 is exposed outside the power supply apparatus, for the user to hold and inhale with a lip.
- a step 105 is formed between the first portion 104 and the second portion 103.
- a step surface of the step 105 is not flat, but has a certain radius.
- the step 105 abuts against an end surface of the battery apparatus, and an outer surface of the first portion 104 is bonded to an outer surface of a shell of the battery apparatus to form a continuous complete surface.
- the end surface of the battery apparatus also has a matched radius.
- the first portion 103 and the second portion 104 may also be separately constructed, and the first portion 103 that is used as a suction nozzle is assembled at an end of the second portion 104 and covers a part of the second portion 104.
- the substrate cavity is formed in the second portion 104.
- holding surfaces 102 contacted with the lip are respectively formed on the front surface 1011 and the rear surface 1012 of the first portion 103 in a recess manner, two holding surfaces 102 are recessed inwardly and constructed close to each other to form a thinner thickness, to adapt to a degree of opening and closing the lip during inhalation by the user.
- an airflow outlet 106 is provided at a center of an upstream end surface 1015, and the vaporization element may be partially exposed through the airflow outlet 106.
- the aerosol generation apparatus 10 When the user smokes, air enters the aerosol generation apparatus 10 through an air inlet and then flows upward through the airflow channel to flow through the vaporization element, and aerosols generated by vaporizing the liquid substrate by the vaporization element are released into the airflow channel, which may be finally discharged from the airflow outlet 106 together with an airflow.
- the user may hold the upstream end surface 1015 of the first portion 103 with the lip to inhale aerosols from the airflow outlet 106.
- the thickness of a middle portion of the upstream end surface 1015 is designed to be greater than the thickness of two sides, to adapt to the shape of the lip, thereby improving tactile experience during inhalation.
- the front surface 1011 and the rear surface 1012 of the shell 101 are symmetric based on an X-Z axis plane, so that when the user connects the aerosol generation apparatus 10 to the power supply apparatus, the aerosol generation apparatus 10 can be inserted into the accommodating cavity of the power supply apparatus without restriction in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions of rotating 180 degrees about the Z axis, and electrical connection between the aerosol generation apparatus 10 and the power supply apparatus is maintained, thereby improving user experience.
- FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 show internal structures of the aerosol generation apparatus 10.
- the aerosol generation apparatus 10 includes a reservoir 100, and a first liquid holder 200, a second liquid holder 300, and a vaporization element 400 configured in a shell 101 of the reservoir 100.
- the shell 101 includes a substrate cavity 111 for accommodating a liquid substrate and defines a vent tube 110 for discharging aerosols.
- the vent tube 110 is substantially located at a center of the shell 101 and is made of a transparent material the same as the shell 101.
- the substrate cavity 111 is at least partially formed by a space between the vent tube 110 and the shell 101.
- the first liquid holder 200 is made of a rigid material that is not susceptible to compression deformation, for example, opaque plastic.
- the second liquid holder 300 may be made of an elastic material such as silicone that may be elastically deformed.
- the first liquid holder 200 fit with the second liquid holder 300 to clamp the vaporization element in the reservoir 100.
- the first liquid holder 200 is connected to an open end of the reservoir 100, and the second liquid holder 300 is mounted between the first liquid holder 200 and the vent tube 110.
- the first liquid holder 200 and the second liquid holder 300 define apart of the substrate cavity 111, and fit with the shell 101 and the vent tube 110 to hold the liquid substrate in the substrate cavity 111, to prevent the liquid substrate from leaking into the vent tube 110 or outside the shell 101.
- the vaporization element 400 includes a liquid guide core body 401 and a heating body 402 for heating a liquid substrate from the liquid guide core body 401 to generate aerosols.
- the liquid guide core body 401 is substantially configured as an elongated cylinder or rod, and the liquid guide core body 401 is generally made of a flexible material such as natural cotton, rayon cotton, fiberglass, or sponge, which guides liquids based on an internal capillary effect and may be compressed.
- the heating body 402 adopts a spiral-shaped heating coil made of a material having an appropriate impedance such as nickel alloy, nickel-chromium alloy, ferrochromium-aluminum alloy, and the like, and the heating coil is wound on a middle portion of the liquid guide core body 401.
- the heating body 402 may also be a strip-shaped heating strip with a certain width wound on a surface of the liquid guide core body 401, or may be a mesh-shaped heating body surrounded on the surface of the liquid guide core body 401, to increase a contact area of the heating body 402 and the surface of the liquid guide core body 401, thereby increasing a TPM value of generated aerosols.
- the second liquid holder 300 fits with the first liquid holder 200 to define a vaporization cavity 205 and a transfer path (not shown) in communication with the vaporization cavity 205 and the substrate cavity 110.
- the transfer path is provided with an appropriate hole for the liquid guide core body 401 to pass through.
- the heating body 402 and a part of the liquid guide core body 401 are located in the vaporization cavity 205, and two ends of the liquid guide core body 401 pass through the transfer path and extend outside the vaporization cavity 205, thereby conducting, through the transfer path, the liquid substrate to the heating body 402 for heating and vaporization.
- the first liquid holder 200 is provided with at least one air inlet and an airflow buffer cavity 204 in fluid communication with the air inlets, the airflow buffer cavity 204 is in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity 205 to introduce an airflow into the vaporization cavity 205, and the vaporization cavity 205 is in fluid communication with the vent tube 110 above.
- the air inlet includes an air inlet 107a and an air inlet 107b provided on the first liquid holder 200.
- an external airflow is guided into the airflow buffer cavity 204 by the air inlet 107a and the air inlet 107b and mixed, and then flow into the vaporization cavity 205, and the airflow reaches the airflow outlet 106 together with aerosols generated in the vaporization cavity 205 through the vent tube 110.
- the air inlet may also be provided on the shell 101 or defined by a gap between the shell 101 and the first liquid holder 200. This is not limited in this application.
- a first seal member 500 and a second seal member 600 are arranged between the first liquid holder 200 and the shell 101, and the airflow buffer cavity 204 is located between the first seal member 500 and the second seal member 600.
- the first seal member 500 can prevent liquids in the substrate cavity 111 from leaking into the airflow buffer cavity 204 and the vaporization cavity 205.
- the vaporization element is in an inoperative state within a time interval of two times of inhalation by the apparatus, residual aerosols in the vaporization cavity 205 are likely to be condensed to condensate, and consequently, the condensate flows into the airflow buffer cavity 204 below.
- the second seal member 600 may prevent the condensate in the airflow buffer cavity 204 from leaking outside the apparatus.
- the first liquid holder 200 includes a body 202 and a support portion 203 extending from the body 202 into the substrate cavity 111, and the liquid guide core body 402 in the vaporization element is retained inside the shell by the support portion 203.
- the support portion 203 preferably includes a first support arm 2031a and a second support arm 2031b opposite to each other, and the first support arm 2031a and the second support arm 2031b are connected through two side walls and surrounds a part of the vaporization cavity 205.
- a trench 2032 for accommodating the liquid guide core body 401 is provided on the first support arm 2031a and the second support arm 2031b, and the trench 2032 is configured to partially define the transfer path.
- the liquid guide core body 401 is accommodated in the trench 2032 and an end portion of the liquid guide core body 401 extends into the substrate cavity 111.
- the first seal member 500, the second seal member 600, and the magnetic elements 50a and 50b are first mounted on the first liquid holder 200, and then the vaporization element 400 is mounted on the first liquid holder 200.
- the liquid guide core body 401 wound with a heating wire 402 is arranged on the support portion 203, two pins of the heating wire 402 pass through reserved holes in the body 202 to a bottom end surface and are bent to be inserted into two electrode mounting holes, and then the electrodes 60a and 60b are mounted to the electrode mounting holes, to maintain contact with the two pins of the heating wire 402 in an extruded manner, so that the electrodes 60a and 60b are electrically connected to the heating wire 402.
- the second liquid holder 300 is assembled onto a bracket portion 203 after the vaporization element 400 is mounted, so that the first liquid holder 200, the vaporization element 400, and the second liquid holder 300 are assembled into a module. Finally, the assembled module is inserted into the shell 101 from the open end 1016, so that the first liquid holder 200 is snap-connected to the shell 101, and a flange 2021 for positioning against the open end 1016 is arranged on an end portion of the first liquid holder 200.
- an aerosol outlet 301 in communication with the vent tube 110 is provided on the second liquid holder 300, and a connection portion 1101 with a smaller outer diameter is arranged at an end of the vent tube 110. The connecting portion 1101 is inserted into the aerosol outlet 301, to maintain a sealing connection between the second liquid holder 300 and the vent tube 110.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation apparatus 10 along another cross-section.
- the airflow buffer cavity 204 formed in the body 202 of the first liquid holder 200 is located upstream of the vaporization cavity 205, the vaporization cavity 205 and the airflow buffer cavity 204 are spaced apart from each other on the first liquid holder 200 in the Z-axis direction, and the vaporization cavity 205 is in fluid communication with the airflow buffer cavity 204 through an airflow hole 206.
- the airflow hole 206 is designed as a waist-shaped hole in a shape of a strip or a gap extending in the Y-axis direction, or is designed as a plurality of airflow holes arranged in the Y-axis direction.
- the airflow hole 206 is substantially axially aligned with a portion of the liquid guide core body 401 wound with the heating wire 402, so that air in the airflow buffer cavity 204 may be directly blown to the heating wire 402 through the airflow hole 206, and aerosols generated near the heating wire are continuously cooled during inhalation by the user, thereby reducing the temperature of aerosols inhaled in the mouth.
- the shell 101 of the reservoir 100 includes a front surface 1011 and a rear surface 1012 opposite to each other, and the front surface 1011 and the rear surface 1012 are at least partially transparent or translucent.
- the airflow buffer cavity 204 in the first liquid holder 200 runs through the body 202 of the first liquid holder 200.
- the airflow buffer cavity 204 runs through the body 202 from one side surface to the other opposite side surface.
- the airflow buffer cavity 204 is located between the front surface 1011 and the rear surface 1012 of the shell 101.
- a condensate absorbing material for example, a fiber material such as cotton may be arranged in the airflow buffer cavity 204 and is configured to absorb condensate entering the airflow buffer cavity 204, to prevent excess condensate from unnecessarily flowing in the airflow buffer cavity 204, thereby reducing a risk of liquid leakage and preventing the condensate from being inhaled by the user together with an airflow.
- FIG. 6 provides a new airflow path configuration in which the first liquid holder 200 has a first width dimension perpendicular to the axial direction (Z-axis direction), an extension width L2 of the airflow buffer cavity 204 in a first width direction (X-axis direction) is greater than an extension width L1 of the vaporization cavity 205 in the first width direction, so that an air containment volume of airflow buffer cavity 204 is greater than that of the vaporization cavity 205, greatly increasing the amount of air stored in the upstream space of the vaporization cavity 205, and an airflow entering the vaporization cavity 205 from the airflow buffer cavity 204 is more moderate.
- the air inlet 107a and the air inlet 107b on the first liquid holder 200 are staggered with the airflow hole 206 in the axial direction, which may further slow an airflow rate of flowing into the vaporization cavity 205.
- staggered airflow hole 206 and air inlets may also reduce direct leakage of condensate in the vaporization cavity 205 from the air inlets to the outside to a certain extent.
- a first accommodating groove 501 for accommodating the first seal member 500 and a second accommodating groove 601 for accommodating the second seal member 600 are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the first liquid holder 200, and an axial depth of the first accommodating groove 501 is greater than an axial depth of the second accommodating groove 601.
- the first seal member 500 is in a shape of a ring belt, and the first seal member 500 includes at least two seal ribs 502 for abutting against an inner wall of the shell 101, thereby improving the sealing performance.
- FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show shapes and structures of a first liquid holder 200 from different perspectives.
- a first blocking wall 2044 and a second blocking wall 2045 are spaced apart in the airflow buffer cavity 204 to sequentially divide the airflow buffer cavity 204 into a first buffer cavity 2041, a second buffer cavity 2042, and a third buffer cavity 2043, the second buffer cavity 2042 is located between the first buffer cavity 2041 and the third buffer cavity 2043 and is in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity 205, and both the first blocking wall 2044 and the second blocking wall 2045 are provided with notches for transferring an airflow. Therefore, dividing the airflow buffer cavity 204 into three communicated spaces may further moderate a flow rate of the airflow while ensuring a sufficient amount of air storage, to provide an appropriate inhalation resistance to the user.
- a notch 2046 on the first blocking wall 2044 and a notch 2047 on the second blocking wall 2045 are adjacent to opposite sides of the body and arranged in a staggered manner.
- the notch 2046 guides air in the first buffer cavity 2041 to the second buffer cavity 2042, and the notch 2047 guides air in the third buffer cavity 2043 to the second buffer cavity 2042.
- the notch 2046 is adjacent to the front surface 1011 of the shell 101, while the notch 2047 is adjacent to the rear surface 1012 of the shell 101.
- such a configuration may make an airflow in the first buffer cavity 2041 and the third buffer cavity 2043 on the left and right sides to be converged into the second buffer cavity 2042 in a staggered manner.
- the airflow enters the second buffer cavity 2042 from the left and right sides and forms a swirling turbulence, and then converged into the vaporization cavity 205 above, and therefore the airflow is more moderate.
- a first accommodating groove 501 for accommodating the first seal member 500 and a second accommodating groove 601 for accommodating the second seal member 600 are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the first liquid holder 200.
- the first accommodating groove 501 and the second accommodating groove 601 are substantially annular, and an axial depth of the first accommodating groove 501 in the axial direction is greater than an axial depth of the second accommodating groove 601.
- the first liquid holder 200 has a second width dimension perpendicular to the axial direction (Z-axis direction), a second width direction (Y-axis direction) is perpendicular to the first width direction (X-axis direction), and a maximum dimension L3 of the first liquid holder 200 in the second width direction is less than a maximum dimension L4 in the first width direction.
- a ratio of dimensions between the second width dimension and the first width dimension cannot be small enough, which mainly because it is not possible to construct the airflow path in a small enough space to improve the airflow rate.
- a ratio of the maximum dimension L3 of the first liquid holder 200 in the second width direction to the maximum dimension L4 in the first width direction is limited to be in a range of 0.2 to 0.4, which is much smaller than a dimensional ratio of the conventional product, and therefore, the vaporizer has a smaller flatness than the conventional vaporizer product from the appearance.
- the foregoing design of the airflow buffer cavity extending in the X-axis direction may provide a sufficient air storage space in a small enough volume, that is, the aerosol generation apparatus 10 provided in this application is applicable to a product having a smaller flatness from the appearance.
- the first liquid holder 200 further includes an extension portion 207 extending from the body 202 to the substrate cavity 111.
- the extension portion 207 is substantially cylindrical, the first accommodating groove 501 is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the extension portion 207, and a flange 2071 extending radially is arranged at an upper end portion of the extension portion 207.
- the flange 2071 is configured to position the first seal member 500 in the first accommodating groove 501.
- the extension portion 207 and the support portion 203 (including two support arms) define two liquid slowing cavity 208, and two end portions of the liquid guide core body 401 extend into the liquid slowing cavity 208. An upper end of the liquid slowing cavity 208 is open.
- the liquid slowing cavity 208 is in communication with the substrate cavity 111, while a space of the liquid slowing cavity 208 is relatively small. which may slow down a speed at which the liquid substrate flows into the vaporization cavity 205 through the liquid guide core body 401, to prevent excess liquid substrates from entering the vaporization cavity 205 and not being fully heated.
- FIG. 8 provides a structure of an embodiment of a second liquid holder 300.
- the second liquid holder 300 is made of an elastic material such as silicone, and includes a body 303.
- An end of the body 303 is provided with an aerosol outlet 301, where the aerosol outlet 301 running through the body 303, and the other end of the body 303 includes a substantially square-shaped hollow cylinder 305 extending toward the support portion 203 of the first liquid holder 200.
- An elastic arms 304a and an elastic arms 304b are respectively arranged on two sides of the cylinder 305 in a suspended state, grooves 306 are defined between the elastic arms 304a and 304b and the cylinder 305.
- the support portion 203 of the first liquid holder 200 is at least partially located in the groove 306, to achieve sealing fit between the first liquid holder 200 and the second liquid holder 300.
- Two seal portions 307 are respectively connected between the elastic arms 304a and 304b and the cylinder 305.
- the seal portions 307 extend into the groove 306, and the width of the seal portions 307 in the Y-axis direction is substantially the same as the width of the trench 2032 on the support portion 203, so that two liquid holders may enter the trench 2032 during assembly of the seal portions 307 and define, together with the support portion 203, openings for the liquid guide core body 401 to pass through, where the openings form a liquid transfer path flowing from the substrate cavity to the vaporization cavity.
- the liquid guide core body 401 includes a fiber material, the fiber material is compressible.
- the first liquid holder 200 and the second liquid holder 300 are configured to prevent liquid in the substrate cavity 111 from entering the vaporization cavity 205 directly from paths other than those capable of transferring only through the liquid guide core body 401. It may be understood that, tight sealing of the outer surface of the liquid guide core body 401 may improve the sealing performance, but overly tight sealing may cause the liquid guide core body 401 to be compressed and affect liquid absorbing performance, making it difficult for the liquid substrate to flow to the heating element through the liquid guide core body 401, which is not desirable in the product design.
- two seal portions 307 have joint surfaces 302 matching the outer peripheral surface of the liquid guide core body 401, where the joint surfaces 302 are arc-shaped and extend in a length direction of the liquid guide core body 401 by a distance.
- the two seal portions 307 contact with a region near the end portion of the liquid guide core body 401 through the joint surfaces 302, so that the seal portions 307 may only slightly deform and provide the smallest possible feedback force to the liquid guide core body 401, thereby providing a good seal effect while ensuring that the absorbing performance of the liquid guide core body 401 is not affected.
- FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 provide an aerosol generation apparatus 10a according to another embodiment.
- the aerosol generation apparatus 10a includes a reservoir 100 and a first liquid holder 200a, a second liquid holder 300a, and a vaporization element 400 mounted inside the reservoir 100.
- the first liquid holder 200a has a support portion 203a, the support portion 203a and the second liquid holder 300a enclose to define a vaporization cavity 205a, and an airflow buffer cavity 204a in communication with the atomization cavity 205a is provided on the first liquid holder 200a, the airflow buffer cavity 204a being located upstream of the vaporization cavity 205a.
- the first liquid holder 200a has an upwardly extending extension portion 207a, the extension portion 207a and the support portion 203a enclose a liquid slowing cavity 208a, an outer diameter of the extension 207a is less than other portions of the first liquid holder 200a, so that a first seal groove 501a is formed between the extension portion 207a and the reservoir 100, the first seal member 500a being located in the first seal groove 501a.
- the second liquid holder 300a is made of a silicone material, the second liquid holder 300a includes a silicone body, and an aerosol outlet 301a is provided at an upper end of the silicone body.
- the first seal member 500a described above is formed by extending at least a portion of the second liquid holder 300a toward the first liquid holder 200a, in particular, the lower end of the silicone body toward the first liquid holder 200a into a sleeve (first seal member 500a) that may surround the periphery of the extension portion 207a, the sleeve being greater than in the X-axis direction than the silicone body, the top of the sleeve being provided with two liquid guide holes 310a and 310b for introducing the flow of the liquid substrate into the liquid slowing cavity 208a, a structure that can reduce assembly parts and simplify an assembly process.
- FIG. 11 provides an embodiment of an electronic aerosol inhaler.
- the electronic aerosol inhaler includes an aerosol generation apparatus 10a and a power supply apparatus 80.
- the power supply apparatus 80 supplies power to the aerosol generation apparatus 10a for operation.
- the aerosol generation apparatus 10a includes a reservoir 100a.
- the power supply apparatus 80 includes a power supply housing 801, and a battery 802, a control circuit board, a bracket, and the like in the power supply housing 801.
- One end of the power supply housing 801 is provided with an accommodating cavity 803, and the other end is provided with a charging interface 808, such as a USB Type-C interface, for charging the battery 802 with an external power source.
- a charging interface 808 such as a USB Type-C interface
- the aerosol generation apparatus 10a includes an insert portion 103a and an exposed portion 104.
- the insert portion 103a and the exposed portion 104 have different outer diameters to form a step 105a through which the aerosol generation apparatus 10a may be inserted through the insert portion 103a and accommodated in the accommodating cavity 803 to maintain an electrical connection with the power supply apparatus 80.
- the bottom of the accommodating cavity 803 has two magnetic elements 806 and two electrodes 807 where the electrodes 807 are telescopic and protrude from the bottom of the accommodating cavity 803.
- the step 105a abuts against the end portion 8011 of the power supply housing 801, the magnetic element on the bottom of the aerosol generation apparatus 10a is attracted to the magnetic element 806 in the accommodating cavity 803, so that the insertion portion 103a remains in the accommodating cavity 803 and compresses the electrodes 807, energizing the electrodes 807 and electrodes on the aerosol generation apparatus 10a.
- Air inlets 804 are provided on two sides of the power supply housing 801, and the air inlets 804 are in communication with the accommodating cavity 803 and are substantially aligned with the bottom of the accommodating cavity 803.
- a cavity 805 mounted with an airflow sensor disposed adjacent to the reception cavity 803 and in airflow communication with the intake hole 804.
Landscapes
- Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
- Nozzles (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This application claims priority to
Chinese Patent Application No. 202021139269.5, entitled "AEROSOL GENERATION APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC AEROSOL INHALER" filed with the Chinese Patent Office on June 18, 2020 - Embodiments of this application relate to the field of e-cigarettes, and specifically, to an aerosol generation apparatus and an electronic aerosol inhaler.
- Many electronic aerosol inhalers (such as an e-cigarette or another electronic nicotine delivery system) are formed by two main components (a vaporizer and a power supply apparatus). A typical vaporizer generally has a function of accommodating a liquid substrate, which includes a reservoir for accommodating a liquid and a vaporization element for evaporating the liquid. The vaporization element is generally implemented as a resistive heater such as a heating wire coil. The power supply apparatus generally includes a battery for supplying power to the vaporization element and a control portion for controlling output power of the battery. In existing products, the power supply apparatus generally includes an airflow sensor. During operation, the power supply apparatus may activate the vaporizer to work by detecting when a user performs inhalation on an inhaler through an airflow sensor, to control the battery to supply power to the vaporization element. This activation causes the vaporization element to evaporate a small amount of liquid from the reservoir, which is inhaled by the user together with an airflow after aerosols are generated.
- Such vaporizer is generally configured for one-time use and may be discarded to replace a new vaporizer when internal liquid is exhausted. As a disposable vaporizer, consumers expect a good inhalation feeling, and a total particulate matter (TPM) of aerosols is an important factor affecting the inhalation feeling. For example, patent application
CN108883242A discloses a stream supply system, including a flat-shaped container for liquid storage, in which a cotton core having a strong absorbing capacity is used to guide the liquid to a heating wire coil for vaporization. In this way, liquid may be adequately supplied during inhalation, so that the user may obtain a desired TPM. - However, there are some problems. For example, if an airflow rate through the heating wire coil is relatively fast, liquid substrates that are not vaporized or droplets that are not sufficiently vaporized on the cotton core are likely to enter the airflow and be inhaled by the user, affecting use experience. In view of this, the airflow design is expected to be improved to provide an appropriate inhalation resistance to obtain the desired TPM during inhalation while inhalation of the liquid substrates that are not vaporized can be avoided as much as possible. However, for flat-shaped vaporizers similar to those shown in the above patent application, even those having a smaller flatness from the appearance, it may be extremely difficult to improve an airflow path in the apparatus to reduce the inhalation of the liquid substrates that are not vaporized.
- The technical problem to be solved by this application is to overcome defects in the related art, and provide an aerosol generation apparatus and an electronic aerosol inhaler which can obtain a desired TPM value while reduce the probability of inhaling an incompletely vaporized liquid substrate during inhalation as much as possible.
- To resolve the foregoing technical problems, this application provides an implementation of an aerosol generation apparatus. The aerosol generation apparatus includes: a shell having an open end, where the shell extends in an axial direction and has a substrate cavity for accommodating a liquid substrate; a first liquid holder, connected to the open end of the shell, where the first liquid holder includes a body and a support portion extending from the body into the substrate cavity; a vaporization element, held by the support portion and configured to vaporize the liquid substrate to generate aerosols; a second liquid holder, provided with an aerosol outlet, where the second liquid holder fits with the support portion of the first liquid holder to define a vaporization cavity, and the vaporization element is at least partially located in the vaporization cavity; and at least one air inlet, configured to guide external air into the aerosol generation apparatus, where an airflow buffer cavity in fluid communication with the air inlet is formed in the body of the first liquid holder, and the airflow buffer cavity is located upstream of the vaporization cavity.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the first liquid holder has a first width dimension perpendicular to the axial direction, and an extension width of the airflow buffer cavity in a first width direction is greater than an extension width of the vaporization cavity in the first width direction.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the vaporization cavity is in fluid communication with the airflow buffer cavity through an airflow hole, and the air inlet and the airflow hole are staggered in the axial direction.
- Further, the first liquid holder has a second width dimension perpendicular to the axial direction, a second width direction is perpendicular to the first width direction, and a maximum dimension of the first liquid holder in the second width direction is less than a maximum dimension in the first width direction.
- As an exemplary embodiment, a ratio of the maximum dimension of the first liquid holder in the second width direction to the maximum dimension in the first width direction is in a range of 0.2 to 0.4.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the airflow buffer cavity runs through the body in the second width direction.
- As an exemplary embodiment, a first blocking wall and a second blocking wall are spaced apart in the airflow buffer cavity to sequentially divide the airflow buffer cavity into a first buffer cavity, a second buffer cavity, and athird buffer cavity, the second buffer cavity is located between the first buffer cavity and the third buffer cavity and is in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity, and both the first blocking wall and the second blocking wall are provided with notches for transferring an airflow.
- As an exemplary embodiment, a notch on the first blocking wall and a notch on the second blocking wall are respectively adjacent to opposite sides of the body and spaced apart from each other.
- As an exemplary embodiment, a first seal member and a second seal member are arranged between the first liquid holder and the shell, and the airflow buffer cavity is located between the first seal member and the second seal member.
- As an exemplary embodiment, a first accommodating groove for accommodating the first seal member and a second accommodating groove for accommodating the second seal member are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the first liquid holder, and an axial depth of the first accommodating groove is greater than an axial depth of the second accommodating groove.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the first seal member is in a shape of a ring belt, and the first seal member includes at least two seal ribs for abutting against an inner wall of the shell.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the first seal member is formed by at least a part of the second liquid holder extending toward the first liquid holder.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the first liquid holder further includes a substantially cylindrical extension portion extending from the body to the substrate cavity, and the first accommodating groove is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the extension portion.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the vaporization element includes a liquid guide core body and a heating wire surrounding the liquid guide core body, and the second liquid holder fits with the first liquid holder to clamp the liquid guide core body.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the support portion includes a first support arm and a second support arm opposite to each other, a trench for accommodating the liquid guide core body is provided on the first support arm and the second support arm, and the liquid guide core body is accommodated in the trench and an end portion of the liquid guide core body extends into the substrate cavity.
- As an exemplary embodiment, a vent tube for discharging aerosols is further arranged in the substrate cavity, and an end portion of the vent tube is connected to the aerosol outlet of the second liquid holder.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the first liquid holder further includes an extension portion extending from the body to the substrate cavity, the extension portion and the support portion define a liquid slowing cavity, and an end portion of the liquid guide core body extends into the liquid slowing cavity.
- As an exemplary embodiment, at least one liquid guide hole for guiding the liquid substrate to flow into the liquid slowing cavity is provided on the second liquid holder.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the second liquid holder is configured as an elastic body and has a joint surface matching an outer peripheral surface of the liquid guide core body.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the first liquid holder is configured as a rigid body, the second liquid holder is configured as an elastic body fitting with the first liquid holder, and both the first liquid holder and the second liquid holder define a transfer path in which the liquid substrate flows from the substrate cavity into the vaporization cavity.
- As an exemplary embodiment, the shell is at least partially configured to be transparent or translucent, to view the airflow buffer cavity through an outer surface of the shell.
- This application further provides another implementation of an aerosol generation apparatus. The aerosol generation apparatus in this embodiment includes: a reservoir, including a shell, where the shell is provided with a substrate cavity for accommodating a liquid substrate and defines a vent tube for discharging aerosols; a first liquid holder configured as a rigid body, connected to the reservoir; a vaporization element, including a liquid guide core body and a heating body for heating a liquid substrate from the liquid guide core body to generate aerosols; and a second liquid holder configured as an elastic body, including an aerosol outlet in communication with the vent tube, where the second liquid holder fits with the first liquid holder to define a vaporization cavity and a transfer path in communication with the vaporization cavity and the substrate cavity, and the liquid guide core body transfers the liquid substrate through the transfer path, where the first liquid holder is provided with at least one air inlet and an airflow buffer cavity in fluid communication with the air inlet, and the airflow buffer cavity is in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity to introduce an airflow into the vaporization cavity.
- Further, the first liquid holder includes a support portion for holding the liquid guide core body, and the second liquid holder is provided with a groove for accommodating at least a part of the support portion.
- This application further provides another implementation of an aerosol generation apparatus. The aerosol generation apparatus in this embodiment includes: a shell, where the shell is provided with a substrate cavity for accommodating a liquid substrate, the shell includes a front surface and a rear surface opposite to each other, and the front surface and the rear surface are at least partially transparent or translucent; a first liquid holder, connected to the shell, where the first liquid holder includes a body and a support portion extending from the body into the substrate cavity; a vaporization element, held by the support portion and configured to vaporize the liquid substrate to generate aerosols; a second liquid holder, provided with an aerosol outlet, where the second liquid holder fits with the support portion of the first liquid holder to define a vaporization cavity, and the vaporization element is at least partially located in the vaporization cavity; and at least one air inlet, configured to guide external air into the aerosol generation apparatus, where an airflow buffer cavity in fluid communication with the air inlet is formed in the first liquid holder, and the airflow buffer cavity is in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity to introduce an airflow into the vaporization cavity; and the airflow buffer cavity runs through the body of the first liquid holder and is located between the front surface and the rear surface of the shell, which can view the airflow buffer cavity through the front surface or the rear surface of the shell.
- This application further provides an embodiment of an electronic aerosol inhaler including a vaporization apparatus and a power supply apparatus for supplying power to the vaporization apparatus. The vaporization apparatus may be the aerosol generation apparatus involved in the foregoing embodiments and optimization solutions.
- Further, the power supply apparatus includes a power supply housing and a battery located in the power supply housing, an accommodating cavity is provided at an end of the power supply housing, and the aerosol generation apparatus is capable of being at least partially inserted into the accommodating cavity, to maintain an electrical connection to the power supply apparatus.
- Beneficial effects of this application are as follows: The aerosol generation apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application includes a first liquid holder and a second liquid holder. The first liquid holder fits with the second liquid holder to define a vaporization cavity, and an airflow buffer cavity in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity is formed in the first liquid holder. Therefore, the airflow buffer cavity may increase an appropriate inhalation resistance and an amount of air stored in an upstream space of the vaporization cavity, to ensure that an airflow can smoothly flow into the vaporization cavity, and leakage of non-vaporized liquid substrates is reduced, so that inhalation of liquid substrates of large particles by the user may be avoided while a larger TPM may be obtained, thereby providing a good taste.
-
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generation apparatus according to some embodiments of this application. -
FIG. 2A is a front view of the aerosol generation apparatus shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 2B is a top view of the aerosol generation apparatus shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 2C is a left view of the aerosol generation apparatus shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation apparatus taken along an X-Z axis direction according to some embodiments of this application. -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation apparatus taken along an X-Y axis direction according to some embodiments of this application. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded view of an aerosol generation apparatus according to some embodiments of this application. -
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of fitting a first liquid holder with a second liquid holder to clamp a vaporization element of an aerosol generation apparatus according to some embodiments of this application. -
FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C are schematic structural diagrams of a first liquid holder in an aerosol generation apparatus from different perspectives according to some embodiments of this application. -
FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a second liquid holder in an aerosol generation apparatus according to some embodiments of this application. -
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation apparatus according to some other embodiments of this application. -
FIG. 10 is a schematic exploded view of the aerosol generation apparatus shown inFIG. 9 . -
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an electronic aerosol inhaler according to this application. - The structures and use principles of an aerosol generation apparatus and an electronic aerosol inhaler provided in this application are further described below by using the following specific embodiments. The aerosol generation apparatus may be, for example, a vaporizer or another nicotine delivery apparatus, or may be another vaporization apparatus including volatile components inhalable by a human body that is configured for an e-cigarette.
- Referring to
FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 together, this application provides an implementation of anaerosol generation apparatus 10. Theaerosol generation apparatus 10 is a vaporizer for an e-cigarette. Theaerosol generation apparatus 10 includes areservoir 100, afirst liquid holder 200 and asecond liquid holder 300 connected to thereservoir 100, and a vaporization element in thereservoir 100. Thereservoir 100 includes a flat-shapedshell 101, and a substrate cavity for accommodating a liquid substrate is included in theshell 101. The vaporization element is configured to vaporize the liquid substrate to form aerosols inhalable by a user. The liquid substrate may be a liquid including nicotine, nicotine salt, or other volatile components that can be biologically absorbed by the human body. Thefirst liquid holder 200 and thesecond liquid holder 300 fit with theshell 101 to hold the liquid substrate inside the substrate cavity, to prevent the liquid substrate from leaking outside theshell 101 or into an airflow channel in the shell. - For ease of reference, three direction systems that are perpendicular to one another are constructed, namely, an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The
aerosol generation apparatus 10 includes a plurality of surfaces extending in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction, where the surfaces are formed with corresponding dimensions. Theshell 101 extends in an axial direction (Z-axis direction) and includes afront surface 1011 and arear surface 1012 that are opposite to each other in the Y-axis direction, afirst side surface 1013 and asecond side surface 1014 located between thefront surface 1011 and therear surface 1012, and anupper end surface 1015 located upstream and anopen end 1016 located downstream. As can be seen fromFIG. 1 , a width dimension of surfaces of theshell 101 extending in the X-axis direction is significantly greater than a width dimension extending in the Y-axis direction, to visually construct a flat shape. - As for product assembly, the
first liquid holder 200 is inserted into theopen end 1016 of theshell 101 and is connected to theopen end 1016, to hold other components inside theshell 101. Both thefront surface 1011 and therear surface 1012 are provided with twoopenings 1017 or grooves that are spaced apart from each other. An outer side surface of thefirst liquid holder 200 is provided withbuckles 201 correspondingly protruded, and thebuckles 201 are fitted with theopenings 1017 or the grooves to mount thefirst liquid holder 200 on theshell 101. It may be understood that, the openings or grooves may also be provided on thefirst side surface 1013 and thesecond side surface 1014, and theshell 101 is connected to thefirst liquid holder 200 through thefirst side surface 1013 and thesecond side surface 1014. - To maintain a connection between the
aerosol generation apparatus 10 and a power supply apparatus, amagnetic element 50a and amagnetic element 50b that are symmetric along a Y-Z axis plane are mounted on an end surface of thefirst liquid holder 200. Themagnetic element 50a and themagnetic element 50b may be a magnet or a ferromagnetic material capable of attracting magnets, and theaerosol generation apparatus 10 is physically connected to the power supply apparatus through themagnetic element 50a and themagnetic element 50b. A pair ofelectrodes first liquid holder 200. Theelectrode 60a and theelectrode 60b are located between themagnetic element 50a and themagnetic element 50b and are also symmetrical along the Y-Z axis plane. Theelectrode 60a and theelectrode 60b are configured to be connected to positive and negative poles of the power supply apparatus, to supply current to the vaporization element. - In an exemplary implementation, the
shell 101 is at least partially transparent or translucent, for example, a transparent plastic shell. In some embodiments, theshell 101 may be made of transparent or translucent plastic materials such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate-1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol (PCTG). The user may observe a condition in theshell 101 through the surface of theshell 101, such as thefront surface 1011 or therear surface 1012. For example, the user may observe a capacity of the liquid substrate in the substrate cavity through a transparent shell, and an airflow channel in the shell may be viewed through the transparent shell. -
FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C show external schematic diagrams of theaerosol generation apparatus 10 from various perspectives. With reference toFIG. 1 and FIG. 2A , the surfaces of theshell 101 form different width dimensions in a Z direction, including afirst portion 104 and asecond portion 103 whose outer surface dimension is relatively reduced. Thefirst portion 104 and thesecond portion 103 may be integrally formed by using transparent plastic. In a case that theaerosol generation apparatus 10 is connected to the power supply apparatus, thesecond portion 103 may be inserted and hidden in the power supply apparatus, and thefirst portion 104 is exposed outside the power supply apparatus, for the user to hold and inhale with a lip. Astep 105 is formed between thefirst portion 104 and thesecond portion 103. A step surface of thestep 105 is not flat, but has a certain radius. In a case that thesecond portion 103 is inserted into an accommodating cavity of a battery apparatus, thestep 105 abuts against an end surface of the battery apparatus, and an outer surface of thefirst portion 104 is bonded to an outer surface of a shell of the battery apparatus to form a continuous complete surface. It is conceivable that the end surface of the battery apparatus also has a matched radius. It may be understood that, thefirst portion 103 and thesecond portion 104 may also be separately constructed, and thefirst portion 103 that is used as a suction nozzle is assembled at an end of thesecond portion 104 and covers a part of thesecond portion 104. The substrate cavity is formed in thesecond portion 104. - To more conveniently cooperate with inhalation by the user, holding
surfaces 102 contacted with the lip are respectively formed on thefront surface 1011 and therear surface 1012 of thefirst portion 103 in a recess manner, two holdingsurfaces 102 are recessed inwardly and constructed close to each other to form a thinner thickness, to adapt to a degree of opening and closing the lip during inhalation by the user. Referring toFIG. 2B , anairflow outlet 106 is provided at a center of anupstream end surface 1015, and the vaporization element may be partially exposed through theairflow outlet 106. When the user smokes, air enters theaerosol generation apparatus 10 through an air inlet and then flows upward through the airflow channel to flow through the vaporization element, and aerosols generated by vaporizing the liquid substrate by the vaporization element are released into the airflow channel, which may be finally discharged from theairflow outlet 106 together with an airflow. During smoking, the user may hold theupstream end surface 1015 of thefirst portion 103 with the lip to inhale aerosols from theairflow outlet 106. The thickness of a middle portion of theupstream end surface 1015 is designed to be greater than the thickness of two sides, to adapt to the shape of the lip, thereby improving tactile experience during inhalation. - Referring to
FIG. 2C , thefront surface 1011 and therear surface 1012 of theshell 101 are symmetric based on an X-Z axis plane, so that when the user connects theaerosol generation apparatus 10 to the power supply apparatus, theaerosol generation apparatus 10 can be inserted into the accommodating cavity of the power supply apparatus without restriction in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions of rotating 180 degrees about the Z axis, and electrical connection between theaerosol generation apparatus 10 and the power supply apparatus is maintained, thereby improving user experience. -
FIG. 3 andFIG. 5 show internal structures of theaerosol generation apparatus 10. Theaerosol generation apparatus 10 includes areservoir 100, and afirst liquid holder 200, asecond liquid holder 300, and avaporization element 400 configured in ashell 101 of thereservoir 100. Theshell 101 includes asubstrate cavity 111 for accommodating a liquid substrate and defines avent tube 110 for discharging aerosols. Thevent tube 110 is substantially located at a center of theshell 101 and is made of a transparent material the same as theshell 101. Thesubstrate cavity 111 is at least partially formed by a space between thevent tube 110 and theshell 101. - The
first liquid holder 200 is made of a rigid material that is not susceptible to compression deformation, for example, opaque plastic. Thesecond liquid holder 300 may be made of an elastic material such as silicone that may be elastically deformed. Thefirst liquid holder 200 fit with thesecond liquid holder 300 to clamp the vaporization element in thereservoir 100. Thefirst liquid holder 200 is connected to an open end of thereservoir 100, and thesecond liquid holder 300 is mounted between thefirst liquid holder 200 and thevent tube 110. Thefirst liquid holder 200 and thesecond liquid holder 300 define apart of thesubstrate cavity 111, and fit with theshell 101 and thevent tube 110 to hold the liquid substrate in thesubstrate cavity 111, to prevent the liquid substrate from leaking into thevent tube 110 or outside theshell 101. - The
vaporization element 400 includes a liquidguide core body 401 and aheating body 402 for heating a liquid substrate from the liquidguide core body 401 to generate aerosols. According to some embodiments, the liquidguide core body 401 is substantially configured as an elongated cylinder or rod, and the liquidguide core body 401 is generally made of a flexible material such as natural cotton, rayon cotton, fiberglass, or sponge, which guides liquids based on an internal capillary effect and may be compressed. In some embodiments, theheating body 402 adopts a spiral-shaped heating coil made of a material having an appropriate impedance such as nickel alloy, nickel-chromium alloy, ferrochromium-aluminum alloy, and the like, and the heating coil is wound on a middle portion of the liquidguide core body 401. It may be understood that, theheating body 402 may also be a strip-shaped heating strip with a certain width wound on a surface of the liquidguide core body 401, or may be a mesh-shaped heating body surrounded on the surface of the liquidguide core body 401, to increase a contact area of theheating body 402 and the surface of the liquidguide core body 401, thereby increasing a TPM value of generated aerosols. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , thesecond liquid holder 300 fits with thefirst liquid holder 200 to define avaporization cavity 205 and a transfer path (not shown) in communication with thevaporization cavity 205 and thesubstrate cavity 110. The transfer path is provided with an appropriate hole for the liquidguide core body 401 to pass through. Theheating body 402 and a part of the liquidguide core body 401 are located in thevaporization cavity 205, and two ends of the liquidguide core body 401 pass through the transfer path and extend outside thevaporization cavity 205, thereby conducting, through the transfer path, the liquid substrate to theheating body 402 for heating and vaporization. - The
first liquid holder 200 is provided with at least one air inlet and anairflow buffer cavity 204 in fluid communication with the air inlets, theairflow buffer cavity 204 is in fluid communication with thevaporization cavity 205 to introduce an airflow into thevaporization cavity 205, and thevaporization cavity 205 is in fluid communication with thevent tube 110 above. In some embodiments, the air inlet includes anair inlet 107a and anair inlet 107b provided on thefirst liquid holder 200. During inhalation, an external airflow is guided into theairflow buffer cavity 204 by theair inlet 107a and theair inlet 107b and mixed, and then flow into thevaporization cavity 205, and the airflow reaches theairflow outlet 106 together with aerosols generated in thevaporization cavity 205 through thevent tube 110. It may be understood that, the air inlet may also be provided on theshell 101 or defined by a gap between theshell 101 and thefirst liquid holder 200. This is not limited in this application. - To ensure sealing performance of the apparatus, a
first seal member 500 and asecond seal member 600 are arranged between thefirst liquid holder 200 and theshell 101, and theairflow buffer cavity 204 is located between thefirst seal member 500 and thesecond seal member 600. Thefirst seal member 500 can prevent liquids in thesubstrate cavity 111 from leaking into theairflow buffer cavity 204 and thevaporization cavity 205. In particular, the vaporization element is in an inoperative state within a time interval of two times of inhalation by the apparatus, residual aerosols in thevaporization cavity 205 are likely to be condensed to condensate, and consequently, the condensate flows into theairflow buffer cavity 204 below. Thesecond seal member 600 may prevent the condensate in theairflow buffer cavity 204 from leaking outside the apparatus. - In some embodiments, the
first liquid holder 200 includes abody 202 and asupport portion 203 extending from thebody 202 into thesubstrate cavity 111, and the liquidguide core body 402 in the vaporization element is retained inside the shell by thesupport portion 203. As shown inFIG. 5 , thesupport portion 203 preferably includes afirst support arm 2031a and asecond support arm 2031b opposite to each other, and thefirst support arm 2031a and thesecond support arm 2031b are connected through two side walls and surrounds a part of thevaporization cavity 205. Atrench 2032 for accommodating the liquidguide core body 401 is provided on thefirst support arm 2031a and thesecond support arm 2031b, and thetrench 2032 is configured to partially define the transfer path. The liquidguide core body 401 is accommodated in thetrench 2032 and an end portion of the liquidguide core body 401 extends into thesubstrate cavity 111. - During assembly, the
first seal member 500, thesecond seal member 600, and themagnetic elements first liquid holder 200, and then thevaporization element 400 is mounted on thefirst liquid holder 200. Specifically, the liquidguide core body 401 wound with aheating wire 402 is arranged on thesupport portion 203, two pins of theheating wire 402 pass through reserved holes in thebody 202 to a bottom end surface and are bent to be inserted into two electrode mounting holes, and then theelectrodes heating wire 402 in an extruded manner, so that theelectrodes heating wire 402. Thesecond liquid holder 300 is assembled onto abracket portion 203 after thevaporization element 400 is mounted, so that thefirst liquid holder 200, thevaporization element 400, and thesecond liquid holder 300 are assembled into a module. Finally, the assembled module is inserted into theshell 101 from theopen end 1016, so that thefirst liquid holder 200 is snap-connected to theshell 101, and aflange 2021 for positioning against theopen end 1016 is arranged on an end portion of thefirst liquid holder 200. In addition, anaerosol outlet 301 in communication with thevent tube 110 is provided on thesecond liquid holder 300, and aconnection portion 1101 with a smaller outer diameter is arranged at an end of thevent tube 110. The connectingportion 1101 is inserted into theaerosol outlet 301, to maintain a sealing connection between thesecond liquid holder 300 and thevent tube 110. -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of anaerosol generation apparatus 10 along another cross-section. According to an airflow direction, theairflow buffer cavity 204 formed in thebody 202 of thefirst liquid holder 200 is located upstream of thevaporization cavity 205, thevaporization cavity 205 and theairflow buffer cavity 204 are spaced apart from each other on thefirst liquid holder 200 in the Z-axis direction, and thevaporization cavity 205 is in fluid communication with theairflow buffer cavity 204 through anairflow hole 206. In some exemplary embodiments, theairflow hole 206 is designed as a waist-shaped hole in a shape of a strip or a gap extending in the Y-axis direction, or is designed as a plurality of airflow holes arranged in the Y-axis direction. Theairflow hole 206 is substantially axially aligned with a portion of the liquidguide core body 401 wound with theheating wire 402, so that air in theairflow buffer cavity 204 may be directly blown to theheating wire 402 through theairflow hole 206, and aerosols generated near the heating wire are continuously cooled during inhalation by the user, thereby reducing the temperature of aerosols inhaled in the mouth. - As an exemplary embodiment, the
shell 101 of thereservoir 100 includes afront surface 1011 and arear surface 1012 opposite to each other, and thefront surface 1011 and therear surface 1012 are at least partially transparent or translucent. For specific details, reference may be made to the description of the material of theshell 101. In the Y-axis direction, theairflow buffer cavity 204 in thefirst liquid holder 200 runs through thebody 202 of thefirst liquid holder 200. In other words, theairflow buffer cavity 204 runs through thebody 202 from one side surface to the other opposite side surface. As can be seen fromFIG. 4 , theairflow buffer cavity 204 is located between thefront surface 1011 and therear surface 1012 of theshell 101. Therefore, the user may view theairflow buffer cavity 204 through thefront surface 1011 or therear surface 1012 of theshell 101, so that the user may observe retention of condensate in theairflow buffer cavity 204 through the shell. As a further exemplary solution, a condensate absorbing material, for example, a fiber material such as cotton may be arranged in theairflow buffer cavity 204 and is configured to absorb condensate entering theairflow buffer cavity 204, to prevent excess condensate from unnecessarily flowing in theairflow buffer cavity 204, thereby reducing a risk of liquid leakage and preventing the condensate from being inhaled by the user together with an airflow. - Based on the existing vaporizers products for e-cigarettes, in a case that an airflow rate near the heating body in the vaporization cavity is relatively fast, a non-vaporized liquid substrate is likely to be carried into the airflow and inhaled by the user, affecting the use experience. In view of this, it is necessary to change an upstream airflow path into the vaporization cavity.
-
FIG. 6 provides a new airflow path configuration in which thefirst liquid holder 200 has a first width dimension perpendicular to the axial direction (Z-axis direction), an extension width L2 of theairflow buffer cavity 204 in a first width direction (X-axis direction) is greater than an extension width L1 of thevaporization cavity 205 in the first width direction, so that an air containment volume ofairflow buffer cavity 204 is greater than that of thevaporization cavity 205, greatly increasing the amount of air stored in the upstream space of thevaporization cavity 205, and an airflow entering thevaporization cavity 205 from theairflow buffer cavity 204 is more moderate. In addition, theair inlet 107a and theair inlet 107b on thefirst liquid holder 200 are staggered with theairflow hole 206 in the axial direction, which may further slow an airflow rate of flowing into thevaporization cavity 205. On the other hand,staggered airflow hole 206 and air inlets may also reduce direct leakage of condensate in thevaporization cavity 205 from the air inlets to the outside to a certain extent. - Referring to
FIG. 6 andFIG. 7B , a firstaccommodating groove 501 for accommodating thefirst seal member 500 and a secondaccommodating groove 601 for accommodating thesecond seal member 600 are provided on an outer peripheral surface of thefirst liquid holder 200, and an axial depth of the firstaccommodating groove 501 is greater than an axial depth of the secondaccommodating groove 601. In some embodiments, thefirst seal member 500 is in a shape of a ring belt, and thefirst seal member 500 includes at least twoseal ribs 502 for abutting against an inner wall of theshell 101, thereby improving the sealing performance. -
FIG. 7A andFIG. 7B show shapes and structures of afirst liquid holder 200 from different perspectives. Afirst blocking wall 2044 and asecond blocking wall 2045 are spaced apart in theairflow buffer cavity 204 to sequentially divide theairflow buffer cavity 204 into afirst buffer cavity 2041, asecond buffer cavity 2042, and athird buffer cavity 2043, thesecond buffer cavity 2042 is located between thefirst buffer cavity 2041 and thethird buffer cavity 2043 and is in fluid communication with thevaporization cavity 205, and both thefirst blocking wall 2044 and thesecond blocking wall 2045 are provided with notches for transferring an airflow. Therefore, dividing theairflow buffer cavity 204 into three communicated spaces may further moderate a flow rate of the airflow while ensuring a sufficient amount of air storage, to provide an appropriate inhalation resistance to the user. - Referring to
FIG. 7B , according to some exemplary embodiments, anotch 2046 on thefirst blocking wall 2044 and anotch 2047 on thesecond blocking wall 2045 are adjacent to opposite sides of the body and arranged in a staggered manner. Thenotch 2046 guides air in thefirst buffer cavity 2041 to thesecond buffer cavity 2042, and thenotch 2047 guides air in thethird buffer cavity 2043 to thesecond buffer cavity 2042. In other words, thenotch 2046 is adjacent to thefront surface 1011 of theshell 101, while thenotch 2047 is adjacent to therear surface 1012 of theshell 101. Thus, it is conceivable that such a configuration may make an airflow in thefirst buffer cavity 2041 and thethird buffer cavity 2043 on the left and right sides to be converged into thesecond buffer cavity 2042 in a staggered manner. During inhalation by the user, the airflow enters thesecond buffer cavity 2042 from the left and right sides and forms a swirling turbulence, and then converged into thevaporization cavity 205 above, and therefore the airflow is more moderate. - To facilitate positioning of the seal member, a first
accommodating groove 501 for accommodating thefirst seal member 500 and a secondaccommodating groove 601 for accommodating thesecond seal member 600 are provided on an outer peripheral surface of thefirst liquid holder 200. The firstaccommodating groove 501 and the secondaccommodating groove 601 are substantially annular, and an axial depth of the firstaccommodating groove 501 in the axial direction is greater than an axial depth of the secondaccommodating groove 601. - Referring to
FIG. 7C , thefirst liquid holder 200 has a second width dimension perpendicular to the axial direction (Z-axis direction), a second width direction (Y-axis direction) is perpendicular to the first width direction (X-axis direction), and a maximum dimension L3 of thefirst liquid holder 200 in the second width direction is less than a maximum dimension L4 in the first width direction. For existing flat-shaped vaporizer products, it is not possible to design the appearance to be flat enough, that is, a ratio of dimensions between the second width dimension and the first width dimension cannot be small enough, which mainly because it is not possible to construct the airflow path in a small enough space to improve the airflow rate. In this embodiment, a ratio of the maximum dimension L3 of thefirst liquid holder 200 in the second width direction to the maximum dimension L4 in the first width direction is limited to be in a range of 0.2 to 0.4, which is much smaller than a dimensional ratio of the conventional product, and therefore, the vaporizer has a smaller flatness than the conventional vaporizer product from the appearance. On the other hand, the foregoing design of the airflow buffer cavity extending in the X-axis direction may provide a sufficient air storage space in a small enough volume, that is, theaerosol generation apparatus 10 provided in this application is applicable to a product having a smaller flatness from the appearance. - With reference to
FIG. 6 andFIG. 7B , according to some embodiments, thefirst liquid holder 200 further includes anextension portion 207 extending from thebody 202 to thesubstrate cavity 111. Theextension portion 207 is substantially cylindrical, the firstaccommodating groove 501 is provided on an outer peripheral surface of theextension portion 207, and aflange 2071 extending radially is arranged at an upper end portion of theextension portion 207. Theflange 2071 is configured to position thefirst seal member 500 in the firstaccommodating groove 501. Theextension portion 207 and the support portion 203 (including two support arms) define two liquid slowingcavity 208, and two end portions of the liquidguide core body 401 extend into the liquid slowingcavity 208. An upper end of the liquid slowingcavity 208 is open. In a case that thefirst liquid holder 200 is mounted in theshell 101, the liquid slowingcavity 208 is in communication with thesubstrate cavity 111, while a space of the liquid slowingcavity 208 is relatively small. which may slow down a speed at which the liquid substrate flows into thevaporization cavity 205 through the liquidguide core body 401, to prevent excess liquid substrates from entering thevaporization cavity 205 and not being fully heated. -
FIG. 8 provides a structure of an embodiment of asecond liquid holder 300. Thesecond liquid holder 300 is made of an elastic material such as silicone, and includes abody 303. An end of thebody 303 is provided with anaerosol outlet 301, where theaerosol outlet 301 running through thebody 303, and the other end of thebody 303 includes a substantially square-shapedhollow cylinder 305 extending toward thesupport portion 203 of thefirst liquid holder 200. Anelastic arms 304a and anelastic arms 304b are respectively arranged on two sides of thecylinder 305 in a suspended state,grooves 306 are defined between theelastic arms cylinder 305. Thesupport portion 203 of thefirst liquid holder 200 is at least partially located in thegroove 306, to achieve sealing fit between thefirst liquid holder 200 and thesecond liquid holder 300. - Two
seal portions 307 are respectively connected between theelastic arms cylinder 305. Theseal portions 307 extend into thegroove 306, and the width of theseal portions 307 in the Y-axis direction is substantially the same as the width of thetrench 2032 on thesupport portion 203, so that two liquid holders may enter thetrench 2032 during assembly of theseal portions 307 and define, together with thesupport portion 203, openings for the liquidguide core body 401 to pass through, where the openings form a liquid transfer path flowing from the substrate cavity to the vaporization cavity. - Since the liquid
guide core body 401 includes a fiber material, the fiber material is compressible. Thefirst liquid holder 200 and thesecond liquid holder 300 are configured to prevent liquid in thesubstrate cavity 111 from entering thevaporization cavity 205 directly from paths other than those capable of transferring only through the liquidguide core body 401. It may be understood that, tight sealing of the outer surface of the liquidguide core body 401 may improve the sealing performance, but overly tight sealing may cause the liquidguide core body 401 to be compressed and affect liquid absorbing performance, making it difficult for the liquid substrate to flow to the heating element through the liquidguide core body 401, which is not desirable in the product design. As an improvement scheme in some embodiments, twoseal portions 307 havejoint surfaces 302 matching the outer peripheral surface of the liquidguide core body 401, where thejoint surfaces 302 are arc-shaped and extend in a length direction of the liquidguide core body 401 by a distance. In a case that thefirst liquid holder 200 and thesecond liquid holder 300 are combined, the twoseal portions 307 contact with a region near the end portion of the liquidguide core body 401 through thejoint surfaces 302, so that theseal portions 307 may only slightly deform and provide the smallest possible feedback force to the liquidguide core body 401, thereby providing a good seal effect while ensuring that the absorbing performance of the liquidguide core body 401 is not affected. -
FIG. 9 andFIG. 10 provide anaerosol generation apparatus 10a according to another embodiment. Theaerosol generation apparatus 10a includes areservoir 100 and afirst liquid holder 200a, asecond liquid holder 300a, and avaporization element 400 mounted inside thereservoir 100. Thefirst liquid holder 200a has asupport portion 203a, thesupport portion 203a and thesecond liquid holder 300a enclose to define avaporization cavity 205a, and anairflow buffer cavity 204a in communication with theatomization cavity 205a is provided on thefirst liquid holder 200a, theairflow buffer cavity 204a being located upstream of thevaporization cavity 205a. Thefirst liquid holder 200a has an upwardly extendingextension portion 207a, theextension portion 207a and thesupport portion 203a enclose a liquid slowingcavity 208a, an outer diameter of theextension 207a is less than other portions of thefirst liquid holder 200a, so that afirst seal groove 501a is formed between theextension portion 207a and thereservoir 100, thefirst seal member 500a being located in thefirst seal groove 501a. Thesecond liquid holder 300a is made of a silicone material, thesecond liquid holder 300a includes a silicone body, and anaerosol outlet 301a is provided at an upper end of the silicone body. Thefirst seal member 500a described above is formed by extending at least a portion of thesecond liquid holder 300a toward thefirst liquid holder 200a, in particular, the lower end of the silicone body toward thefirst liquid holder 200a into a sleeve (first seal member 500a) that may surround the periphery of theextension portion 207a, the sleeve being greater than in the X-axis direction than the silicone body, the top of the sleeve being provided with twoliquid guide holes cavity 208a, a structure that can reduce assembly parts and simplify an assembly process. -
FIG. 11 provides an embodiment of an electronic aerosol inhaler. The electronic aerosol inhaler includes anaerosol generation apparatus 10a and apower supply apparatus 80. Thepower supply apparatus 80 supplies power to theaerosol generation apparatus 10a for operation. Theaerosol generation apparatus 10a includes areservoir 100a. Thepower supply apparatus 80 includes apower supply housing 801, and abattery 802, a control circuit board, a bracket, and the like in thepower supply housing 801. One end of thepower supply housing 801 is provided with anaccommodating cavity 803, and the other end is provided with a charginginterface 808, such as a USB Type-C interface, for charging thebattery 802 with an external power source. - The
aerosol generation apparatus 10a includes aninsert portion 103a and an exposedportion 104. Theinsert portion 103a and the exposedportion 104 have different outer diameters to form astep 105a through which theaerosol generation apparatus 10a may be inserted through theinsert portion 103a and accommodated in theaccommodating cavity 803 to maintain an electrical connection with thepower supply apparatus 80. The bottom of theaccommodating cavity 803 has twomagnetic elements 806 and twoelectrodes 807 where theelectrodes 807 are telescopic and protrude from the bottom of theaccommodating cavity 803. When theinsertion portion 103a is accommodated in theaccommodating cavity 803, thestep 105a abuts against theend portion 8011 of thepower supply housing 801, the magnetic element on the bottom of theaerosol generation apparatus 10a is attracted to themagnetic element 806 in theaccommodating cavity 803, so that theinsertion portion 103a remains in theaccommodating cavity 803 and compresses theelectrodes 807, energizing theelectrodes 807 and electrodes on theaerosol generation apparatus 10a. -
Air inlets 804 are provided on two sides of thepower supply housing 801, and theair inlets 804 are in communication with theaccommodating cavity 803 and are substantially aligned with the bottom of theaccommodating cavity 803. Below the bottom wall of theaccommodating cavity 803 is acavity 805 mounted with an airflow sensor disposed adjacent to thereception cavity 803 and in airflow communication with theintake hole 804. When the user inhales, the gap between theaerosol generation apparatus 10a and the bottom wall of theaccommodating cavity 803 creates a negative pressure, thereby forcing external air from theair inlets 804 into the gap, the airflow sensor generates the above negative pressure response signal and feeds it back to the controller, which controls the output power of thebattery 802 to the vaporization elements in theaerosol generation apparatus 10a to initiate vaporization. - The foregoing embodiments are merely some implementations of this specification listed for ease of understanding the contents of the application, which are not any limitations on the technical solutions of this application, nor are exhaustive of all possible embodiments. Therefore, any minor improvements or equivalent replacements made to the structures, processes, or steps of this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application.
Claims (26)
- An aerosol generation apparatus, comprising:a shell having an open end, wherein the shell extends in an axial direction and has a substrate cavity for accommodating a liquid substrate;a first liquid holder, connected to the open end of the shell, wherein the first liquid holder comprises a body and a support portion extending from the body into the substrate cavity;a vaporization element, held by the support portion and configured to vaporize the liquid substrate to generate aerosols;a second liquid holder, provided with an aerosol outlet, wherein the second liquid holder fits with the support portion of the first liquid holder to define a vaporization cavity, and the vaporization element is at least partially located in the vaporization cavity; andat least one air inlet, configured to guide external air into the aerosol generation apparatus, whereinan airflow buffer cavity in fluid communication with the air inlet is formed in the body of the first liquid holder, and the airflow buffer cavity is located upstream of the vaporization cavity.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid holder has a first width dimension perpendicular to the axial direction, and an extension width of the airflow buffer cavity in a first width direction is greater than an extension width of the vaporization cavity in the first width direction.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the vaporization cavity is in fluid communication with the airflow buffer cavity through an airflow hole, and the air inlet and the airflow hole are staggered in the axial direction.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first liquid holder has a second width dimension perpendicular to the axial direction, a second width direction is perpendicular to the first width direction, and a maximum dimension of the first liquid holder in the second width direction is less than a maximum dimension in the first width direction.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a ratio of the maximum dimension of the first liquid holder in the second width direction to the maximum dimension in the first width direction is in a range of 0.2 to 0.4.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the airflow buffer cavity runs through the body in the second width direction.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first blocking wall and a second blocking wall are spaced apart in the airflow buffer cavity to sequentially divide the airflow buffer cavity into a first buffer cavity, a second buffer cavity, and a third buffer cavity, the second buffer cavity is located between the first buffer cavity and the third buffer cavity and is in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity, and both the first blocking wall and the second blocking wall are provided with notches for transferring an airflow.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a notch on the first blocking wall and a notch on the second blocking wall are respectively adjacent to opposite sides of the body and spaced apart from each other.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first seal member and a second seal member are arranged between the first liquid holder and the shell, and the airflow buffer cavity is located between the first seal member and the second seal member.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a first accommodating groove for accommodating the first seal member and a second accommodating groove for accommodating the second seal member are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the first liquid holder, and an axial depth of the first accommodating groove is greater than an axial depth of the second accommodating groove.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first seal member is in a shape of a ring belt, and the first seal member comprises at least two seal ribs for abutting against an inner wall of the shell.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first seal member is formed by at least a part of the second liquid holder extending toward the first liquid holder.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first liquid holder further comprises a substantially cylindrical extension portion extending from the body to the substrate cavity, and the first accommodating groove is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the extension portion.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vaporization element comprises a liquid guide core body and a heating wire surrounding the liquid guide core body, and the second liquid holder fits with the first liquid holder to clamp the liquid guide core body.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the support portion comprises a first support arm and a second support arm opposite to each other, a trench for accommodating the liquid guide core body is provided on the first support arm and the second support arm, and the liquid guide core body is accommodated in the trench and an end portion of the liquid guide core body extends into the substrate cavity.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a vent tube for discharging aerosols is further arranged in the substrate cavity, and an end portion of the vent tube is connected to the aerosol outlet of the second liquid holder.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first liquid holder further comprises an extension portion extending from the body to the substrate cavity, the extension portion and the support portion define a liquid slowing cavity, and an end portion of the liquid guide core body extends into the liquid slowing cavity.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one liquid guide hole for guiding the liquid substrate to flow into the liquid slowing cavity is provided on the second liquid holder.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second liquid holder is configured as an elastic body and has a joint surface matching an outer peripheral surface of the liquid guide core body.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid holder is configured as a rigid body, the second liquid holder is configured as an elastic body fitting with the first liquid holder, and both the first liquid holder and the second liquid holder define a transfer path in which the liquid substrate flows from the substrate cavity into the vaporization cavity.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shell is at least partially configured to be transparent or translucent, to view the airflow buffer cavity through an outer surface of the shell.
- An aerosol generation apparatus, comprising:a reservoir, comprising a shell, wherein the shell is provided with a substrate cavity for accommodating a liquid substrate and a vent tube for discharging aerosols;a first liquid holder configured as a rigid body, connected to the reservoir;a vaporization element, comprising a liquid guide core body and a heating body for heating a liquid substrate from the liquid guide core body to generate aerosols; anda second liquid holder configured as an elastic body, comprising an aerosol outlet in communication with the vent tube, wherein the second liquid holder fits with the first liquid holder to define a vaporization cavity and a transfer path in communication with the vaporization cavity and the substrate cavity, and the liquid guide core body transfers the liquid substrate through the transfer path, whereinthe first liquid holder is provided with at least one air inlet and an airflow buffer cavity in fluid communication with the air inlet, and the airflow buffer cavity is in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity to introduce an airflow into the vaporization cavity.
- The aerosol generation apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the first liquid holder comprises a support portion for holding the liquid guide core body, and the second liquid holder is provided with a groove for accommodating at least a part of the support portion.
- An aerosol generation apparatus, comprising:a shell, wherein the shell is provided with a substrate cavity for accommodating a liquid substrate, the shell comprises a front surface and a rear surface opposite to each other, and the front surface and the rear surface are at least partially transparent or translucent;a first liquid holder, connected to the shell, wherein the first liquid holder comprises a body and a support portion extending from the body into the substrate cavity;a vaporization element, held by the support portion and configured to vaporize the liquid substrate to generate aerosols;a second liquid holder, provided with an aerosol outlet, wherein the second liquid holder fits with the support portion of the first liquid holder to define a vaporization cavity, and the vaporization element is at least partially located in the vaporization cavity; andat least one air inlet, configured to guide external air into the aerosol generation apparatus, whereinan airflow buffer cavity in fluid communication with the air inlet is formed in the first liquid holder, and the airflow buffer cavity is in fluid communication with the vaporization cavity to introduce an airflow into the vaporization cavity; and the airflow buffer cavity runs through the body of the first liquid holder and is located between the front surface and the rear surface of the shell, to view the airflow buffer cavity through the front surface or the rear surface of the shell.
- An electronic aerosol inhaler, comprising a vaporization apparatus and a power supply apparatus for supplying power to the vaporization apparatus, wherein the vaporization apparatus comprises the aerosol generation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 24.
- The electronic aerosol inhaler according to claim 25, wherein the power supply apparatus comprises a power supply housing and a battery located in the power supply housing, an accommodating cavity is provided at an end of the power supply housing, and the aerosol generation apparatus is capable of being at least partially inserted into the accommodating cavity, to maintain an electrical connection to the power supply apparatus.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CN202021139269.5U CN212852492U (en) | 2020-06-18 | 2020-06-18 | Aerosol generating device and aerosol electronic inhaler |
PCT/CN2021/100965 WO2021254492A1 (en) | 2020-06-18 | 2021-06-18 | Aerosol generating device and aerosol electronic inhaler |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP4169395A1 true EP4169395A1 (en) | 2023-04-26 |
EP4169395A4 EP4169395A4 (en) | 2023-12-06 |
Family
ID=75211111
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP21825820.0A Pending EP4169395A4 (en) | 2020-06-18 | 2021-06-18 | Aerosol generating device and aerosol electronic inhaler |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20230240371A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4169395A4 (en) |
CN (1) | CN212852492U (en) |
WO (1) | WO2021254492A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN212852492U (en) * | 2020-06-18 | 2021-04-02 | 深圳市合元科技有限公司 | Aerosol generating device and aerosol electronic inhaler |
CN115590249A (en) * | 2021-06-28 | 2023-01-13 | 深圳市合元科技有限公司(Cn) | Atomizer and aerosol-generating device |
CN215958366U (en) * | 2021-09-10 | 2022-03-08 | 深圳市合元科技有限公司 | Atomizer, atomizing core and electronic atomization device |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2515562B (en) * | 2013-06-28 | 2016-04-06 | Totally Wicked Ltd | Vaporiser unit and fluid reservoir for an atomiser |
CN104605482A (en) * | 2015-01-05 | 2015-05-13 | 深圳市合元科技有限公司 | Replaceable atomization unit and atomizer and electronic cigarette including the same |
GB201605100D0 (en) | 2016-03-24 | 2016-05-11 | Nicoventures Holdings Ltd | Vapour provision system |
CN205757176U (en) * | 2016-04-14 | 2016-12-07 | 深圳市合元科技有限公司 | Nebulizer and electronic cigarette |
US10034495B2 (en) * | 2016-07-25 | 2018-07-31 | Fontem Holdings 1 B.V. | Device for storing and vaporizing liquid |
CN207476948U (en) * | 2017-07-26 | 2018-06-12 | 深圳市合元科技有限公司 | A kind of leakproof oil fogger |
CN210226908U (en) * | 2019-04-01 | 2020-04-03 | 深圳市爱卓依科技有限公司 | Cigarette cartridge |
CN210611013U (en) * | 2019-06-28 | 2020-05-26 | 深圳市合元科技有限公司 | Electronic cigarette atomizer and electronic cigarette |
CN110353320A (en) * | 2019-08-27 | 2019-10-22 | 深圳雾芯科技有限公司 | A kind of atomising device |
CN111150101A (en) * | 2020-01-19 | 2020-05-15 | 深圳尊一品科技有限公司 | Atomizer with air pressure buffer bin and application thereof |
CN212852492U (en) * | 2020-06-18 | 2021-04-02 | 深圳市合元科技有限公司 | Aerosol generating device and aerosol electronic inhaler |
-
2020
- 2020-06-18 CN CN202021139269.5U patent/CN212852492U/en active Active
-
2021
- 2021-06-18 WO PCT/CN2021/100965 patent/WO2021254492A1/en unknown
- 2021-06-18 US US18/011,189 patent/US20230240371A1/en active Pending
- 2021-06-18 EP EP21825820.0A patent/EP4169395A4/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2021254492A1 (en) | 2021-12-23 |
EP4169395A4 (en) | 2023-12-06 |
CN212852492U (en) | 2021-04-02 |
US20230240371A1 (en) | 2023-08-03 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP4169395A1 (en) | Aerosol generating device and aerosol electronic inhaler | |
US10251427B2 (en) | Multi-part electrically heated aerosol-generating system | |
TW201831098A (en) | Moulded mounting for an aerosol-generating element in an aerosol-generating system | |
CN112074200B (en) | Molded cartridge assembly | |
KR102668780B1 (en) | Flow directing elements for vapor delivery systems | |
KR102615568B1 (en) | Atomizers for vapor delivery systems | |
CN215347010U (en) | Atomizer and electronic atomization device | |
CN214127021U (en) | Electronic cigarette cartridge and electronic cigarette | |
CN114794583A (en) | Heating module, atomizing component and electronic atomizer | |
US20230413915A1 (en) | Vaporizer and electronic vaporization device | |
US20220125107A1 (en) | Atomizer enclosure for a vapor provision system | |
CN114847527A (en) | Atomizer and electronic atomization device | |
CN114847521A (en) | Atomizer and electronic atomization device | |
CN218790492U (en) | Atomizing assembly and aerosol generating device | |
CN113631053B (en) | Atomizer housing for a steam supply system | |
CN220545835U (en) | Atomization assembly, atomizer and electronic atomization device | |
CN220458619U (en) | Atomizer and electronic atomization device comprising same | |
CN220545826U (en) | Atomization assembly, atomizer and electronic atomization device | |
CN215958322U (en) | Power module and aerosol-generating device | |
CN214103231U (en) | Electronic cigarette atomizer and electronic cigarette | |
CN220675145U (en) | Atomizer and electronic atomization device | |
WO2024131266A1 (en) | Electronic cigarette having structure capable of simultaneously blocking liquid path and turning off circuit or opening liquid path and turning on circuit | |
CN218737218U (en) | Atomizer and electronic atomization device thereof | |
KR20240093803A (en) | Flow directing member for a vapour provision system | |
CN117958492A (en) | Sealing member, atomizer and electronic atomizing device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE |
|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20230111 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
DAV | Request for validation of the european patent (deleted) | ||
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R079 Free format text: PREVIOUS MAIN CLASS: A24F0040100000 Ipc: A24F0040420000 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS |
|
A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 20231106 |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: A24F 40/485 20200101ALI20231030BHEP Ipc: A24F 40/42 20200101AFI20231030BHEP |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20231120 |