KR20230071007A - Aerosol generator having heating body and liquid absorbing body seperately - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol generator with a moisture absorber and a heating element separated.
The present invention includes a liquid storage unit, an air flow path penetrating the liquid storage unit, and a liquid cartridge having a moisture absorber installed in the liquid storage unit and impregnated with liquid supplied from the liquid storage unit and crossing the air flow path; and a main body to which the liquid cartridge is coupled, in contact with the moisture absorbing body, and having a planar heating element manufactured by weaving metal fibers; including, and generating an aerosol from the liquid phase absorbed by the moisture absorbing body of the liquid cartridge by generating heat from the planar heating element of the main body. It provides a hygroscopic and heating element separation type aerosol generator, characterized in that to do.

Description

Aerosol generator with separation of moisture absorber and heating element {AEROSOL GENERATOR HAVING HEATING BODY AND LIQUID ABSORBING BODY SEPERATELY}

The present invention relates to an aerosol generator with a moisture absorber and a heating element separated.

1 is a perspective view of a fine particle generator using a liquid cartridge according to the prior art.

A fine particle generator according to the prior art is supplied with liquid from the upper part of the body 3 equipped with a battery (not shown), a control circuit (not shown), a liquid storage tank for storing liquid, and a liquid storage tank. It has a cartridge (1) equipped with an atomizer for atomizing a liquid. The cartridge 1 is detachably attached to the upper part of the main body 3, and receives power from the main body 3 to heat the liquid to generate fine particles.

2 is an exploded view of a liquid cartridge according to the prior art.

The cartridge includes a liquid storage housing 3001 for storing liquid, an elastomer cap 3011 installed in the liquid storage housing 3001 and partitioning the liquid storage space and the atomization space, and a liquid storage housing installed below the elastomer cap 3011 ( 3001), a wick/coil assembly 3002 installed at one end, a wick housing 3005 fixing the wick/coil assembly 3002, an elastomer cap 3011 and a cannula 3009 penetrating the liquid storage space, the cannula It includes a mouthpiece 3017 separated from the tank for inhaling microparticles passing through 3009 and one or more absorbent pads 3019 installed in the mouthpiece 3017 to absorb droplets.

It is connected to the coil of the wick/coil assembly 3002 and includes a pair of contact terminals 3007 for receiving power from the main body. The contact terminals 3007 pass through the liquid storage housing 3001, some of which are exposed outside the housing 3001, and others are located within the housing 3001.

In addition, a cover 3015 may be coupled to a lower portion of the housing 3001 to protect the contact terminal 3007 exposed to the outside of the housing 3001 before the cartridge is coupled to the main body and to prevent liquid phase from leaking.

When the wick/coil assembly 3002 is installed under the elastomer cap 3011, air flows in through the pores formed in the lower part of the housing 3001 to atomize the liquid phase in the wick/coil assembly 3002, forming a cannula with microparticles. Inhale through (3009).

3 is a view showing a wick/coil assembly provided in a liquid cartridge according to the prior art. The coil/wick assembly 3002 has a coil 3002b wound on the outside of a wick 3002a made of silica wick, sponge foam material, fiber material, etc. ) vaporizes the liquid contained in it. At this time, local carbonization of the liquid phase and the wick 3002a may occur due to a difference in heat transfer rate between the wick 3002a and the coil 3002b. If the liquid phase or the wick 3002a is carbonized, it may cause a user to feel uncomfortable when inhaling and reduce satisfaction. Therefore, it is required to develop a structure capable of preventing carbonization of the heating part.

Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2017920

The present invention provides a ceramic heater of a fine particle generator that eliminates unnecessary processes and prevents generation of harmful substances by forming a contact pad instead of a lead wire on a ceramic heater so that the pad and the terminal directly contact and operate during assembly, and a liquid phase having the same It aims to provide a cartridge.

The present invention includes a liquid storage unit, an air flow path penetrating the liquid storage unit, and a liquid cartridge having a moisture absorber installed in the liquid storage unit and impregnated with liquid supplied from the liquid storage unit and crossing the air flow path; and a main body to which the liquid cartridge is coupled, in contact with the moisture absorbing body, and having a planar heating element manufactured by weaving metal fibers; including, and generating an aerosol from the liquid phase absorbed by the moisture absorbing body of the liquid cartridge by generating heat from the planar heating element of the main body. It provides a hygroscopic and heating element separation type aerosol generator, characterized in that to do.

In addition, as another example of the present invention, the planar heating element is manufactured to have elasticity, and when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the main body, when the moisture absorber presses the planar heating element, the planar heating element is elastically deformed and is in close contact with the moisture absorber. and a heating element separated type aerosol generator.

As another example of the present invention, the planar heating element provides a moisture absorbing element and heating element separation type aerosol generator, characterized in that it has an electrode capable of applying electricity to metal fibers.

In addition, as another example of the present invention, the metal fiber provides a moisture absorber and heating element separation type aerosol generator, characterized in that it has a resistance value of 0.3 ~ 2.0Ω.

In addition, as another example of the present invention, the metal fiber provides a moisture absorbing and heating element separation type aerosol generator, characterized in that made of SUS, kanthal, constantan, steel, and alloys thereof.

In addition, as another example of the present invention, there is provided a moisture absorbing body and heating element separation type aerosol generator, characterized in that the moisture absorbing body is made of porous ceramic.

In addition, as another example of the present invention, a sealing material interposed between the moisture absorbing body and the liquid storage unit; provides a moisture absorbing body and heating body separation type aerosol generator, characterized in that it further comprises.

In addition, as another example of the present invention, the liquid cartridge provides an aerosol generator with a moisture absorbent and heating element separation type, characterized in that it has a mouthpiece for inhaling the aerosol delivered through the air flow path at the upper end.

In addition, as another example of the present invention, the mouthpiece communicates with the air flow path and provides an aerosol generator separated from a moisture absorbing body and a heating element, characterized in that it further includes a cooling passage for introducing outdoor air to cool the high-temperature aerosol.

The aerosol generator with separate moisture absorbing element and heating element provided by the present invention separates the moisture absorbing element and the heating element and places only the moisture absorbing element in the liquid cartridge, thereby further lowering the manufacturing cost of a liquid cartridge that is generally used for one time use. Since it can be reused several times by placing it in the body, it has the advantage of reducing environmental pollution.

In addition, the aerosol generator provided by the present invention is capable of preventing the carbonization of the moisture absorbing body by making the moisture absorbing body of a porous ceramic, and by making the heating element into a planar heating element to have elasticity using metal fibers, thereby absorbing moisture. There is an advantage that the body and the heating element can be brought into close contact.

1 is a perspective view of a fine particle generator using a liquid cartridge according to the prior art;
2 is an exploded view of a liquid cartridge according to the prior art;
3 is a view showing a wick/coil assembly provided in a liquid cartridge according to the prior art;
4 is a cross-sectional view in which the main body and the liquid cartridge of the aerosol generator separating the moisture absorbing element and the heating element according to an embodiment of the present invention are separated;
5 is a cross-sectional view in which a main body and a liquid cartridge of an aerosol generating device separated from a moisture absorbing element and a heating element according to an embodiment of the present invention are combined;
6 is a view schematically showing a surface heating element of an aerosol generator with a moisture absorbent and heating element separation type according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

4 is a cross-sectional view in which the liquid cartridge is separated from the main body of the aerosol generator for separating the moisture absorbing element and the heating element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The aerosol generator with separation of moisture absorber and heating element according to an embodiment of the present invention can be largely divided into a main body 100 and a liquid cartridge 200. The liquid cartridge 200 is detachable from the main body 100, and when the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge 200 is exhausted, the liquid cartridge 200 is further separated from the main body 100 to further fill the liquid. It can be used, and it can be used for one-time use to be discarded when all stored liquids are exhausted.

Although not shown in the drawing, the main body 100 is a battery that converts electrical energy into chemical energy and stores it, and then converts chemical energy into electrical energy when necessary and provides it, and a plane heating element that generates heat by receiving electricity from the battery. 130, and a control board (not shown) for controlling charging and power transmission of the battery and controlling heating of the planar heating element 130. In addition, it may include a sensor for detecting the heating temperature of the face heating element 130, a pressure sensor for detecting the user's inhalation, or a button or input key for the user to control the use of the aerosol generator as needed.

The upper surface of the main body 100 has a coupling surface 110 coupled to the liquid cartridge 200, and a rib 112 or a step for shape coupling with the liquid cartridge 200 is provided on the outer circumference of the coupling surface 110. can be provided In addition, the main body 100 includes an outside air inlet passage 120 penetrating the coupling surface 110 . The outdoor air inlet 120 forms an air passage so that the user can smoothly inhale the aerosol through the air flow path 220 to be described later.

A planar heating element 130 is installed to cross the outside air inlet 120 . 4 shows an embodiment in which the planar heating element 130 is installed at the upper end of the outdoor air inlet 120, but is not limited to this position. The air introduced through the outside air inlet 120 is heated when it meets the planar heating element 130 and is discharged through the air flow path 220 .

The liquid cartridge 200 includes a liquid storage unit 210 , and an air flow path 220 penetrating the liquid storage unit 210 is formed at the center of the liquid storage unit 210 . A moisture absorber 230 is installed below the liquid storage unit 210, and a sealing material 232 may be installed to prevent the liquid from leaking into the gap between the moisture absorber 230 and the liquid storage unit 210. there is. The moisture absorbing body 230 is formed across the airflow path 220, and when the moisture absorbing body 230 is heated in contact with the surface heating element 130, an aerosol is generated from the liquid phase absorbed by the moisture absorbing body 230, and the airflow pass It is provided so that the user can inhale through (220).

A mouthpiece 240 may be installed on top of the liquid cartridge 200 for user's inhalation, and a suction passage 242 connected to the air flow path 220 is provided in the mouthpiece 240 . In the case of an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating a liquid with a heater, a user may feel uncomfortable when the aerosol is too hot when inhaled. To prevent this, in one embodiment of the present invention, a cooling passage 244 connected to the suction passage 242 of the mouthpiece 240 and introducing outside air is provided. The aerosol delivered through the airflow path 220 is mixed with the outside air introduced through the cooling passage 244 and sucked in, thereby lowering the inhalation temperature, thereby preventing the user from getting burned or feeling uncomfortable.

5 is a cross-sectional view in which the liquid cartridge and the body of the aerosol generator separating the moisture absorbing element and the heating element according to an embodiment of the present invention are combined.

As described above, when the liquid cartridge 200 is coupled to the main body 100, the surface heating element 130 is in contact with the moisture absorbent 230, and when power is applied to the surface heating element 130, heat is generated to the moisture absorbent 230. The absorbed liquid phase is aerosolized.

At this time, when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the main body 100, when the moisture absorbing body 230 presses the surface heating element 130, the surface heating element 130 elastically deforms and is in close contact with the moisture absorbing body 230. To this end, the moisture absorbing body 230 is made of a material to have rigidity, and the planar heating element 130 is preferably manufactured to have elasticity. When the planar heating element 130 having elasticity is elastically deformed and in close contact with the moisture absorber 230, the gap disappears between the planar heating element 130 and the moisture absorber 230, reducing heat loss as well as widening the contact area for heating It has the advantage of expanding the area.

The planar heating element 130 is mounted in a vertical or non-horizontal structure to the outside air inlet 120 of the main body 100, when the lower end of the liquid cartridge 200 and the mounting surface 110 of the main body are coupled, the moisture absorber It is installed on the main body 100 so as to have a tension that can be in direct contact with the 230. That is, while the liquid cartridge 200 is coupled to the main body 100, the moisture absorber 230 moves downward to press the planar heating element 130 downward, and after the coupling is completed, the planar heating element 130 of its own It is restored upward due to elasticity, and the moisture absorbing body 230 and the planar heating element 130 can heat the moisture absorbing body 230 without a separate contact terminal.

6 is a diagram schematically showing a surface heating element of a moisture absorbing element and heating element separation type aerosol generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In Figure 6, the planar heating element 130 shows an embodiment in which metal fibers are woven in a knitted form. The planar heating element 130 is woven across the front and back of the plurality of warp yarns 132 so that the plurality of weft yarns 134 are staggered, and the electrodes 136 are bonded to both ends of all the warp yarns 132. Therefore, all the slopes are connected in parallel to the anode of the electrode 136. The material of the metal fiber is preferably SUS316L, and the electrode 130 is made of nickel (Ni). At this time, both the warp yarn 132 and the weft yarn 134, which are metal fibers constituting the planar heating element 130, are all metal fibers made of electrically conductive metal and an insulating coating is made on the surface. The junction of the electrode 136 and the slope 132 is made through electric resistance welding (Spot Welding).

The metal fiber preferably has a resistance value of 0.3 to 2.0 Ω, and as a material, kanthal, constantan, steel, and alloys thereof may be used in addition to SUS.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, since the planar heating element 130 manufactured by weaving metal fibers has air permeability, the air introduced through the outside air inlet 120 can pass through and does not block the flow path.

On the other hand, the moisture absorber 230 may use a wick using a general cotton wool, silica wick, or fiber, but carbonization of the moisture absorber 230 may be prevented by forming a porous ceramic material.

The moisture absorber 230 made of a porous ceramic material may be prepared by mixing a silicate, a binder, and a pore-forming agent to form a slurry, molding, drying, and then sintering. In order to improve the strength of the porous ceramic absorbent 230, SiO ₂ may be further added. At this time, the silicate is preferably magnesium silicate or aluminum silicate. At this time, it is preferable that the silicate particles have a spherical shape and have an even particle size distribution. For example, it is preferable to limit the particle size to particles having a size within ±30% of the average particle size, or to manufacture the porous ceramic absorbent body 230 only with particles having a particle size in the range of 75 to 95 μm. . On the other hand, the moisture absorber 230 made of porous ceramic preferably has a pore size of 25 to 40 μm and a porosity of 45 to 65%. In addition, the moisture absorber 230 made of porous ceramic has a thick portion and a thin portion. In order to prevent breakage, the thickness of the portion having the minimum thickness of the moisture absorber 230 made of porous ceramic is preferably 0.5 mm or more. In addition, the moisture absorber 230 made of porous ceramic preferably has a breaking strength of 5 kgf or more.

In the aerosol generator for separating the moisture absorbing element and the heating element according to the present invention, the moisture absorbing element 230 and the heating element 130 are separated and only the moisture absorbing element 230 is disposed in the liquid cartridge 300, thereby generally being used as a disposable liquid cartridge. The manufacturing cost of the can be further lowered, and since the heating element 130 can be disposed in the body 100 and reused several times, there is an advantage in that environmental pollution can be reduced. In addition, as the heating element 130 is disposed in the main body 100, there is no need to apply power to the liquid cartridge 200, so a terminal for electrical connection between the liquid cartridge 200 and the main body 100 needs to be disposed. does not exist. Accordingly, there is no fear of malfunction due to poor contact between the liquid cartridge 200 and the main body 100 .

On the other hand, in the aerosol generator in which the moisture absorbing body and the heating element are separated, carbonization of the moisture absorbing body 230 can be prevented by making the moisture absorbing body 230 of porous ceramic, and the planar heating element 130 is manufactured to have elasticity by using metal fibers. By doing this, there is an advantage that the moisture absorbing body 230 and the heating element 130 can be brought into close contact.

Claims (9)

a liquid cartridge having a liquid storage unit, an air flow path penetrating the liquid storage unit, and a moisture absorber installed in the liquid storage unit and impregnated with liquid supplied from the liquid storage unit and crossing the air flow path; and
A main body having a planar heating element to which the liquid cartridge is coupled, in contact with the moisture absorbent and manufactured by weaving metal fibers; includes,
A moisture-absorbing and heating-element separation type aerosol generator, characterized in that the surface heating element of the main body generates heat to generate an aerosol from the liquid phase absorbed by the moisture absorption element of the liquid cartridge. According to claim 1,
The planar heating element is manufactured to have elasticity,
When the liquid cartridge is mounted on the main body, when the moisture absorber presses the planar heating element, the planar heating element elastically deforms and adheres to the moisture absorbent. According to claim 1,
The planar heating element is a moisture absorbing element and heating element separation type aerosol generator, characterized in that it has an electrode capable of applying electricity to the metal fiber. According to claim 1,
The metal fiber has a resistance value of 0.3 to 2.0Ω. According to claim 1,
The metal fiber is a moisture absorbent and heating element separated aerosol generator, characterized in that made of SUS, kanthal, constantan, steel and alloys thereof. According to claim 1,
A moisture absorbing body and a heating element separation type aerosol generator, characterized in that the moisture absorbing body is made of porous ceramic. According to claim 1,
A moisture absorbing and heating element separation type aerosol generator further comprising a sealing material interposed between the moisture absorbing body and the liquid storage unit. According to claim 1,
The liquid cartridge has a mouthpiece for inhaling the aerosol delivered through the air flow path at the upper end. According to claim 8,
The mouthpiece communicates with the air flow path and further includes a cooling passage for introducing outdoor air to cool the high-temperature aerosol.

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