KR20240000907A - Airflow path structure and liquid cartridge havig the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments relate to an airflow path structure and a liquid cartridge having the same.
An embodiment provides an airflow path structure provided in a liquid cartridge to introduce an airflow, comprising: a main body inserted into the liquid cartridge; A groove having one or more vertically curved curved structures formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body; and a through hole that communicates with the groove and penetrates the main body.

Description

Air flow path structure and liquid cartridge having the same {AIRFLOW PATH STRUCTURE AND LIQUID CARTRIDGE HAVIG THE SAME}

Embodiments relate to an airflow path structure and a liquid cartridge having the same.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a liquid cartridge provided with a leakage liquid removal structure according to the prior art. It is provided with a housing 11 that stores the liquid phase and forms a space in which the stored liquid phase is converted into fine particles. An airflow path (not shown) is formed in the housing 11 to allow fine particles formed in the liquid cartridge 10 to be sucked in along with external air. The wick 12, which is supplied and wetted with the liquid stored in the housing 11, and the heating coil 12a wound around the wick 12 vaporize the liquid to generate fine particles. At this time, the installation space of the wick assembly in which the wick 12 and the heating coil 12a are combined and the liquid storage space are partitioned by a partition (not shown), etc., and a hole is provided in the partition to allow liquid to flow in small quantities to the wick assembly. This is formed.

The heating coil 12a is connected to the contact terminal 130 extending outside of the housing 11. The contact terminal 13 is exposed to the outside of the housing 11 and receives power by contacting the contact terminal of the fine particle generator, which will be described later.

A pore 14 through which external air can be introduced is formed in the housing 11 by communicating with an airflow path (not shown). If the pores 14 are formed and external air is not introduced, even if fine particles are generated within the liquid cartridge 10, it is very difficult to inhale them through the suction hole 15a of the mouth piece 15.

However, as previously mentioned, there is a disadvantage that liquid may leak through the pores 14. To prevent this, in the prior art, a leak absorbing material 16 capable of absorbing leakage liquid is installed along the edge of the lower part of the housing 11.

However, in the case of the leak removal structure according to the prior art, if the absorption capacity of the tear absorbent material 16 is exceeded, there is a risk that the leakage fluid may flow into the sensor, etc., causing malfunction.

To improve this, the applicant has proposed a structure to prevent leakage of liquid from entering the pressure sensor as shown in FIG. 2.

The fine particle generator having a structure to prevent leakage from entering the pressure sensor disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0155162 includes a frame 1300 capable of combining a liquid cartridge 1200 on a main body 1500. Equipped with A housing 1110 surrounds the main body 1500, the frame 1300, and a portion of the liquid cartridge 1200 coupled to the frame 1300.

The liquid cartridge 1200 has a liquid storage space (not shown) capable of storing liquid, a wick, and a vaporizing member 1210 such as a heating coil wound around the wick, and an interior that applies power to the vaporizing member 1210. It may also include a terminal 1230. In addition, a mouth piece 1220 is provided on the top of the liquid cartridge 1200 so that fine particles generated when the liquid is vaporized can be inhaled, and an inlet 1222 is formed in the mouth piece 1220. At this time, a pipe-like space through which airflow can pass must be formed between the space where the vaporizing member 1210 is installed and the suction port 1222 so that the liquid phase can vaporize.

The main body 1500 is equipped with components such as a battery (not shown) and a control board (not shown), and a frame 1300 is coupled to the top of the main body 1500. The frame 1300 is formed with a coupling structure of the liquid cartridge 1200 and a terminal capable of applying power to the internal terminal 1230 of the liquid cartridge 1200. Additionally, a pressure sensor (not shown) is installed in the frame 1300. At this time, the frame 1300 is provided with a structure that introduces external air into the liquid cartridge 1200 and the pressure sensor (not shown) and simultaneously prevents the liquid flowing out of the liquid cartridge 1200 from flowing into the pressure sensor.

The lower part of the liquid cartridge 1200 is inserted into the housing 1110 and coupled to the upper part of the frame 1300. At this time, there is a gap between the lower part of the liquid cartridge 1200 and the housing 1110, and this gap becomes an external air introduction passage 1610 that introduces external air into the fine particle generator. At this time, the gap between the mouth piece 1220 of the liquid cartridge 1200 and the top of the housing 1110 serves as the inlet of the fresh air introduction passage 1610.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0155162

The purpose of the embodiment is to provide an airflow path that can prevent liquid leakage from the cartridge and a liquid cartridge provided therewith.

An embodiment provides an airflow path structure provided in a liquid cartridge to introduce an airflow, comprising: a main body inserted into the liquid cartridge; A groove having one or more vertically curved curved structures formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body; and a through hole that communicates with the groove and penetrates the main body.

In another aspect of the embodiment, an airflow path structure is provided, wherein the lower end of the groove extends to the lower end of the main body and communicates with the lower space of the main body.

In another aspect of the embodiment, an airflow path structure is provided, wherein the groove has one or more bottleneck structures in which the groove narrows to cause capillary action.

Additionally, as another aspect of the embodiment, an airflow path structure is provided, wherein the airflow path structure is formed of a hydrophilic material.

In addition, as another aspect of the embodiment, the airflow path structure provides an airflow path structure, wherein the liquid phase provided in the liquid cartridge and the airflow path structure are manufactured from a material whose equilibrium contact angle derived from Young's equation is 90° or less.

Additionally, the embodiment includes a liquid storage unit for storing liquid; An aerosol generating unit coupled to the lower side of the liquid storage unit and receiving the liquid and turning it into aerosol; An aerosol passage that allows the user to inhale the aerosol generated from the aerosol generating unit; And an airflow path structure coupled to the lower side of the aerosol generation unit and introducing external air into the aerosol generation unit. The airflow path structure is formed on the outer peripheral surface and includes a groove having a curved structure bent up and down and a through hole communicating with the groove and the aerosol generation unit. A liquid cartridge is provided, characterized in that it is provided.

In addition, as another aspect of the embodiment, a liquid cartridge is provided, wherein the groove of the airflow path structure has at least one bottleneck structure in which the groove is narrowed to cause capillary action.

Additionally, as another aspect of the embodiment, a liquid cartridge is provided wherein the airflow path structure is formed of a hydrophilic material.

In another aspect of the embodiment, a liquid cartridge is provided wherein the lower end of the groove extends to the lower end of the main body and communicates with the lower space of the main body.

The air flow path structure provided by the embodiment and the liquid cartridge provided with the same may, when leakage occurs and flows into the air flow path, the liquid may accumulate in the curved structure formed in the air flow path or the liquid may condense in the bottleneck section, thereby causing the leaked liquid to form. This can prevent it from flowing into the pressure sensor connected to the airflow path.

In addition, the leaked liquid remains on the airflow path and when the user inhales the aerosol, it flows back into the aerosol generating unit and is removed by suction pressure, so it is not necessary to go through a separate process of removing the leaked liquid, providing convenience in use.

1 is a view showing a liquid cartridge having a leakage liquid removal structure according to the prior art;
Figure 2 shows a structure to prevent leakage from entering the pressure sensor according to the prior art;
3 is an exploded view of a liquid cartridge having an airflow path structure according to an embodiment;
4 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid cartridge provided with an airflow path structure according to an embodiment;
5 is a perspective view of an airflow path structure according to an embodiment;
Figure 6 is a diagram showing a bottleneck section of an airflow path structure according to an embodiment;
Figure 7 is a diagram showing the contact angle between an airflow path structure and a liquid phase according to an embodiment.

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

Figure 3 is an exploded view of a liquid cartridge provided with an air flow path structure according to an embodiment, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid cartridge provided with an air flow path structure according to an embodiment.

The liquid cartridge according to the embodiment includes an upper case 110 forming the liquid storage unit 112, a heater 210 that is coupled to the four sides of the upper case 110, and a heater 210 that heats the liquid to generate an aerosol. ) is installed on the lower side of the airflow path structure 300 to provide an airflow path for introducing external air into the aerosol generating unit, the lower part is installed in the lower part of the airflow path structure 300 and combines with the upper case 110 to form the exterior Includes case 130.

Additionally, a separate cap 140 may be additionally installed on the upper part of the upper case 110 in contact with the user's mouth. The cap 140 has a groove on the outer upper surface of the upper case 110 so that it can be attached and detached, and the cap 140 has a protrusion 144 inserted into the groove. Meanwhile, a cap rubber 140 is installed in the groove to prevent the cap 140 from being easily separated.

The heater 210 according to the embodiment is a ceramic heater, and a rubber case 220 surrounding the outer periphery of the heater 210 is provided for close installation to prevent liquid leakage through the gap between the heater 210 and the upper case 110. are combined. Additionally, a middle case 120 may be further installed between the rubber case 220 and the upper case 110. The middle case 120 is coupled to the lower inner peripheral surface of the upper case 110, and in order to prevent liquid from leaking between the middle case 120 and the upper case 110, the middle case 120 is made of an elastic material. -ring(122) can be installed.

Meanwhile, an aerosol passage is provided inside the upper case 110 to allow the user to inhale the aerosol generated by the heater 210. The aerosol passage is formed on a pipe 310 that penetrates the heater 210 and extends axially along the center of the upper case 110, and is coaxial with the pipe 310 and is formed on the inner upper part of the upper case 110. It is formed by a pipe portion 114 and a rubber pipe 320 made of an elastic material connecting the pipe 310 and the pipe portion 114.

Meanwhile, the cap 140 forms a hole 142 at a position in contact with the top of the pipe portion 114, so that the user can inhale the aerosol delivered through the aerosol passage.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an airflow path structure according to an embodiment, and Figure 6 is a diagram showing a bottleneck section of the airflow path structure according to an embodiment.

The airflow path structure 300 includes a groove 350 having one or more vertically curved curved structures formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 310 inserted into the upper case 110.

The main body 310 is installed below the heater 210 and has a space 320 where the aerosol generated by the heater 210 temporarily stays.

As described above, the groove 350 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 310, and a through hole 340 is formed in the main body 310 so that the groove 350 can communicate with the space 320. do. Additionally, the lower end 352 of the groove 350 extends to the lower end of the main body 310 and is used as an inlet through which external air flows.

As described above, the groove 350 has at least one curved structure. The curve structure is curved up and down, and when liquid flows out, it accumulates in the lower curve.

Meanwhile, the groove 350 has one or more bottleneck sections 354 in between. The bottleneck section 354 is a portion where the width and depth of the groove 350 are narrowed, and the stagnant liquid phase can be pulled in by capillary action. Therefore, it is possible to prevent liquid from leaking to the outside, especially to a pressure sensor (not shown) or a control board (not shown) formed on the lower side of the liquid cartridge.

At this time, the material of the airflow path structure 300 is preferably made of a hydrophilic material to increase the adhesion of the liquid phase. For example, it may be manufactured from materials such as hydrophilic rubber or hydrophilic plastic.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the contact angle between the airflow path structure and the liquid phase according to an embodiment.

The liquid stored in the liquid storage unit 112 and used as an aerosol base may be made of a liquid other than water. In this case, in order for the liquid phase to remain in the groove 350 of the airflow path structure 300, it is preferable that the liquid be manufactured from a material that satisfies θ _c <90° in Young's Equation.

That is, the airflow pass structure 300 is

θ _c = equilibrium contact angle

S = Soild (airflow pass structure)

L = Liquid

G = Gas

It is preferable that it is manufactured from a material that satisfies θ _c <90°.

Claims (9)

In the airflow pass structure provided in the liquid cartridge and introducing airflow,
A main body inserted into the liquid cartridge;
A groove having one or more vertically curved curved structures formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body; and
An airflow pass structure comprising a through hole that communicates with the groove and penetrates the main body. According to paragraph 1,
An airflow path structure characterized in that the bottom of the groove extends to the bottom of the main body and communicates with the lower space of the main body. According to paragraph 1,
An airflow path structure characterized in that the groove has one or more bottleneck structures in which the groove is narrowed to cause capillary action. According to paragraph 1,
The airflow path structure is an airflow path structure characterized in that it is formed of a hydrophilic material. According to paragraph 1,
The airflow pass structure is characterized in that the liquid phase provided by the liquid cartridge and the airflow pass structure are manufactured from a material whose equilibrium contact angle derived from Young's equation is 90° or less. A liquid storage unit that stores liquid;
An aerosol generating unit coupled to the lower side of the liquid storage unit and receiving the liquid and turning it into aerosol;
an aerosol passage that allows the user to inhale the aerosol generated from the aerosol generating unit;
It includes an airflow pass structure that is coupled to the lower side of the aerosol generating unit and introduces external air into the aerosol generating unit,
The airflow path structure is formed on the outer peripheral surface and includes a groove having a curved structure curved up and down and a through hole communicating with the groove and the aerosol generating unit. According to clause 6,
A liquid cartridge characterized in that the groove of the airflow path structure has one or more bottleneck structures in which the groove is narrowed to cause capillary action. According to clause 6,
A liquid cartridge characterized in that the airflow pass structure is formed of a hydrophilic material. According to clause 6,
A liquid cartridge characterized in that the bottom of the groove extends to the bottom of the main body and communicates with the lower space of the main body.