US20150351457A1

US20150351457A1 - Electronic cigarette and method for adjusting flow rate of gas flow of electronic cigarette

Info

Publication number: US20150351457A1
Application number: US14/759,369
Authority: US
Inventors: Qiuming Liu
Original assignee: Kimree Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Kimree Technology Co Ltd; Kimree Hi-Tech Inc
Priority date: 2013-01-05
Filing date: 2014-01-03
Publication date: 2015-12-10
Also published as: KR101740254B1; JP6220892B2; CA2896940A1; WO2014106328A1; JP2016504038A; KR20150120955A; AU2013372213A1; WO2014106480A1

Abstract

An electronic cigarette comprises a cigarette rod with a battery, an atomizer configured to atomize tobacco oil contained therein, and an airflow path configured to enable the air to flow into the atomizer. A pressure regulating valve unit arranged in the airflow path includes a floating sphere configured to close or open the airflow path according to an airflow direction and to adjust the airflow rate flowing into the airflow path. By means of arranging the pressure regulating valve, it is able to control the airflow rate flowing into the atomizer, hence adjust the amount of smoke sucked to change tastes of smoking and meet users' different needs. Moreover, when blowing to the electronic cigarette, the pressure regulating valve unit will be in a closed state to avoid tobacco oil inside the atomizer flowing to the battery and a control board.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to the field of electronic products, and more particularly to an electronic cigarette and a method for adjusting flow rate of gas flow of the electronic cigarette.

BACKGROUND

With a rising attention to health, people come to realize the tobacco is harmful to health, thus the electronic cigarette which is both able to ease a craving for tobacco and less harmful to health is produced. The electronic cigarette is usually configured to atomize specially prepared tobacco oil and simulate tastes of smoking. When preparing the tobacco oil, materials harmful to health, such as nicotine, tar and the like, are removed to eliminate the harm to health. As the tobacco oil contains no harmful material that makes people be addicted, such as nicotine, tar and the like, the nicotine addiction will be reduced after smoking the electronic cigarette. Therefore, the electronic cigarette has an effect on assisting in quitting smoking.
In the prior art, the electronic cigarette consists of a cigarette rod, an atomizer and a mouthpiece. A battery is arranged in the cigarette rod. The tobacco oil is stored in the atomizer. An intake hole connected to the outside is defined on the cigarette rod or an end of the cigarette rod to enable the air outside to flow into the electronic cigarette. However, the airflow rate flowing into the electronic cigarette is fixed because the diameter of the intake hole is fixed, and it is difficult to adjust the amount of smoke by adjusting the airflow rate. In addition, the tobacco oil in the atomizer will be blew into the cigarette rod if users blow into the mouthpiece by mistake when using the electronic cigarette, which will render the battery and related connection circuits to be damaged by the tobacco oil.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Aiming at the drawbacks in the prior art that it is difficult to adjust flow rate of gas flow of the electronic cigarette and it is easy to cause the leakage of the tobacco oil, an objective of the present application is to provide an electronic cigarette and a method for adjusting flow rate of gas flow of the electronic cigarette. A pressure regulating valve is used to improve tastes of smoke effectively and adjust the airflow rate by a puffing force. Furthermore, it can avoid the tobacco oil inside a mouthpiece or inside an atomizer flowing into a cigarette rod when users blowing at the mouthpiece.
The technical solution of the present application to solve the technical problem is providing an electronic cigarette comprising a cigarette rod with a battery, an atomizer configured to atomize tobacco oil contained therein, and an airflow path configured to enable the air to flow into the atomizer; a pressure regulating valve unit is arranged in the airflow path, and the pressure regulating valve unit includes a floating sphere configured to close or open the airflow path according to an airflow direction and to adjust an airflow rate flowing into the airflow path.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, the electronic cigarette further comprises a mouthpiece arranged at one side of the atomizer and the side of the atomizer is away from the cigarette rod, the air flows towards the mouthpiece when smoking, and a pressure inside the electronic cigarette is lower than the atmospheric pressure outside, and an opening degree of the floating sphere varies with a pressure difference between the pressure inside and outside the electronic cigarette to adjust the flow rate of the air flowing into the airflow path; the air flows backwards the mouthpiece when blowing into the electronic cigarette from the mouthpiece, a pressure inside the electronic cigarette is lower than the atmospheric pressure outside, and the airflow path is sealed up by the floating sphere to avoid the tobacco oil inside the atomizer flowing to the battery of the cigarette rod.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, a holding cavity is defined inside the cigarette rod and the battery is accommodated in the holding cavity, a smoke cavity is defined inside the atomizer and the tobacco oil is contained in the smoke cavity, and the holding cavity and the smoke cavity are connected to form the airflow path; and the floating sphere open or close the airflow path according to an airflow direction inside the electronic cigarette and a pressure difference between the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette, so that the holding cavity and the smoke cavity are correspondingly communicated or isolated.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, the pressure regulating valve unit is arranged between the cigarette rod and the atomizer, the electronic cigarette further comprises a first bracket and a second bracket, one end of the pressure regulating valve unit is adapted to and fixed on the first bracket, and the other end of the pressure regulating valve unit is adapted to and fixed on the second bracket.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, the pressure regulating valve unit includes a valve gland and a support base, and a through hole is defined at the top of the valve gland, the two ends of the support base are open ends and a plurality of protrusions are spaced on an inner wall of the support base, and the floating sphere is movably clamped in the protrusions defined on the inner wall of the support base.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, the pressure regulating valve unit further includes a valve gland and a support base, and a through hole is defined at the top of the valve gland, an intake hole configured to enable the air outside to flow in and a pilot hole communicated with the intake hole are formed inside the support base, and the pilot hole is extended and radially enlarged from the intake hole to one side that is close to the valve gland, and the floating sphere is movably abutted against the intake hole under the guidance of the pilot hole to seal up or open the airflow path.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, a circular hole is formed inside the support base, and the circular hole extends from the pilot hole to one side that is away from the intake hole, and the intake hole, the pilot hole and the circular hole are arranged with the same axis.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, a centerline of the floating sphere and that of the intake hole are coaxially arranged, and a diameter of the floating sphere is larger than a diameter of the intake hole.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, the floating sphere is clamped at a connection between the intake hole and the pilot hole to seal up the intake hole.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, a support part and at least two transition parts are defined on an inner wall of the support base, and the intake hole is defined in the center of the support part, and the at least two transition parts extend along the intake hole and are evenly spaced, the at least two transition parts are enclosed to form the pilot hole.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, the pressure regulating valve unit further includes a sealing part, two ends of the sealing part are open ends and the sealing part is abutted against the valve gland respectively.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, one open end at the bottom of the sealing part is connected to the intake hole of the support base to enable the air outside to flow into the intake hole via the open end at the bottom of the sealing part.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, when blowing into the electronic cigarette from the mouthpiece, the floating sphere is sealed up in the intake hole under the guidance of the pilot hole to make the holding cavity and the smoke cavity isolate from each other, thus avoiding the tobacco oil flowing to the battery of the cigarette rod.
In the electronic cigarette of the present application, the floating sphere is a steel ball, a glass ball, a ceramic ball or a plastic ball.
In another aspect, the present application further provides a method for adjusting flow rate of gas flow of an electronic cigarette, the electronic cigarette comprises a cigarette rod with a battery, an atomizer configured to atomize tobacco oil contained therein, and an airflow path configured to enable the air to flow into the atomizer, the method comprises the following steps:
S1: blowing or sucking from one end of the atomizer, and making a floating sphere of a pressure regulating valve unit arranged in the airflow path open or close the airflow path according to a blowing airflow direction or a sucking airflow direction, thus adjusting the airflow rate flowing into the airflow path.
In the method for adjusting flow rate of gas flow of the electronic cigarette of the present application, the electronic cigarette comprises a mouthpiece 200 arranged at one side of the atomizer and the side of the atomizer is away from the cigarette rod, and the step S1 comprises the following steps:
S11: sucking from the mouthpiece and generating airflow flowing towards the mouthpiece to make a pressure inside the electronic cigarette lower than the atmospheric pressure outside, and an opening degree of the floating sphere varies with a pressure difference between the pressure inside and outside the electronic cigarette to adjust the airflow rate flowing into the airflow path;
S12: blowing at the mouthpiece and generating airflow flowing backwards the mouthpiece to make a pressure inside the electronic cigarette higher than the atmospheric pressure outside, and the airflow path is sealed up by the floating sphere to avoid tobacco oil inside the atomizer flowing to the battery inside the cigarette rod.
By implementing the electronic cigarette and the method for adjusting flow rate of gas flow of the electronic cigarette of the present application, the following advantages can be achieved: by means of arranging a pressure regulating valve unit in the airflow path, it is able to control the airflow rate flowing into the atomizer, hence adjust the amount of smoke sucked to change tastes of smoking and meet users' different needs. Moreover, when blowing to the electronic cigarette, the pressure regulating valve unit will be in a closed state, it is able to avoid tobacco oil inside the atomizer flowing to the battery and a control board and hence prolong the lifetime of the electronic cigarette. Furthermore, the adjusting method is easy to complete, there is no need to operate manually, and the airflow rate flowing into the electronic cigarette can be adjusted just by controlling the puffing force, and it is hence able to adjust the amount of smoke sucked by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present application will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments in the following, in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an electronic cigarette of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an electronic cigarette of the present application;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a pressure regulating valve unit of an electronic cigarette of a preferred embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a pressure regulating valve unit of the electronic cigarette of the preferred embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an airflow direction when the pressure regulating valve unit shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is in smoking state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to explain the purpose, the technical features, and the effect of the present application more clearly, the specific embodiments of the present application will be described in detail referring to the drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the present application provides an electronic cigarette 10, comprising a cigarette rod 100 with a battery 104, a mouthpiece 200, an atomizer 300, a pressure regulating valve unit 400, a first bracket 500 and a second bracket 600. The cigarette rod 100, the first bracket 500, the pressure regulating valve unit 400, the second bracket 600, the atomizer 300 and the mouthpiece 200 are connected in turn to cooperatively form the electronic cigarette. Wherein, the atomizer 300 containing tobacco oil is configured to atomize the tobacco oil and produce smoke. The battery 104 inside the cigarette rod 100 is configured to power the atomizer 300 to heat and atomize the tobacco oil, and the atomized tobacco oil becomes smoke that is then discharged via the mouthpiece 200 and sucked by the user.
The mouthpiece 200 is arranged at an end of the atomizer 300, wherein the end of the atomizer is away from the cigarette rod 100. That is to say, the cigarette rod 100 and the mouthpiece 200 are arranged at two ends of the atomizer 300 respectively. A holding cavity 102 is defined inside the cigarette rod 100. The battery 104 is accommodated in the holding cavity 102. A smoke cavity 302 is defined inside the atomizer 300. The tobacco oil is contained in the smoke cavity 302. The holding cavity 102 and the smoke cavity 302 are connected to each other to cooperatively form an airflow path. The airflow path is configured to enable the airflow of the electronic cigarette circulate and to enable the air outside to flow into the atomizer 300, so that the smoke produced by atomizing the tobacco oil will flow into the mouthpiece 200 for users' smoking.
The pressure regulating valve unit 400 is arranged in the airflow path, and the pressure regulating valve unit 400 is configured to adjust a flow rate of the outside air flowing into the electronic cigarette. That is to say, the pressure regulating valve unit 400 can be arranged in the holding cavity 102, in the smoke cavity 302, or between the holding cavity 102 and the smoke cavity 302. Those skilled in the art should know that after the atomizer 300 atomizes the tobacco oil and produces smoke, the smoke is able to flow towards the mouthpiece 200 under the action of smoking. In order to ensure that the smoke in the atomizer 300 flows towards the mouthpiece 200, it is needed to push air into the electronic cigarette, so that the smoke produced by atomizing the tobacco oil can flow from atomizer 300 to the mouthpiece 200 under the driving of the air when smoking. The pressure regulating valve unit 400 is configured to adjust the flow rate of the outside air flowing into the atomizer 300 and hence adjust the amount of smoke sucked by users. In a specific embodiment, the pressure regulating valve unit 400 is arranged between the cigarette rod 100 and the atomizer 300. One end of the pressure regulating valve unit 400 is connected to the cigarette rod 100 via the first bracket 500, the other end of the pressure regulating valve unit 400 is connected to the atomizer 300 via the second bracket 600. The first bracket 500 and the second bracket 600 are in the same shape and structure. Specifically, the first bracket 500 and the second bracket 600 may be designed in a hollow cylindrical structure with an internal thread or an external thread. The cigarette rod 100 and the atomizer 300 are connected by a threaded connection.
When smoking at the mouthpiece 200, the pressure regulating valve unit 400 will be opened under the action of suction to make the air outside flow into the atomizer 300, and then the smoke produced by atomizing the tobacco oil will flow with the air into the mouthpiece 200 for smoking. When users are not smoking at the mouthpiece 200, the pressure regulating valve unit 400 will be closed and make the smoke cavity 302 and the holding cavity 102 be isolated from each other. That is to say, the airflow path is closed and the air outside cannot flow into the atomizer 300, so that users cannot smoke. Furthermore, when accidentally blowing into the electronic cigarette at the mouthpiece 200, the pressure regulating valve unit 400 will be closed because the airflow direction at the mouthpiece 200 is opposite to the intake direction of the pressure regulating valve unit 400. Therefore, it is able to avoid the leakage of the tobacco oil and prolong the lifetime of the battery 104.
Moreover, users can adjust the airflow rate flowing into the atomizer 300 by controlling their suction force, to further adjust the amount of smoke and improve the tastes and experience of users. The way the air flowing into the electronic cigarette is a prior art, for example, defining an intake on the cigarette rod 100 to enable the air outside to flow into the electronic cigarette, or defining an intake on a lamp cap that is away from the mouthpiece 200 to enable the air outside to flow into the electronic cigarette and then pass through the 100 and finally flow to the pressure regulating valve unit 400. Because the way the air flowing into the electronic cigarette is a prior art and is uncorrelated with the improvement of the present application, the corresponding structure configured to enable the air to flow into the electronic cigarette is not showed in the drawings.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the pressure regulating valve unit 400 provided in a preferred embodiment of the present application comprises a valve gland 420, a floating sphere 422, a support base 424 and a sealing part 426. The floating sphere 422 is movably clamped inside the support base 424, and the sealing part 426 is abutted against the valve gland 420 via the support base 424.
The valve gland 420 is in a hollow cylindrical structure approximately and is open at one end, and a through hole 4202 is defined at the other end of the valve gland 420. The through hole 4202 is configured to enable the air outside to flow into the atomizer 300. It is understood that the shape of the through hole 4202 is not limited here, and the shape of the through hole 4202 can be circular, square or other shape. In the present embodiment, the shape of the through hole 4202 is circular.
The support base 424 is in a cylindrical structure, and two ends of the support base 424 are open ends, and a diameter of the support base 424 is smaller than a diameter of the valve gland 420. The diameter of a support base 424 is preferable that the support base 424 is exactly sheathed in the valve gland 420. That is to say, the valve gland 420 sheathes outside the support base 424. A plurality of protrusions is spaced inside the support base 424, and the protrusions can be in a cuboid structure.
An intake hole 4241, a pilot hole 4242 and a circular hole 4243 are formed inside the support base 424 and are connected to each other, so that an approximate stepped through hole is formed inside the support base 424. In the present embodiment, the intake hole 4241, the pilot hole 4242 and the circular hole 4243 are coaxially arranged and connected, so that the air outside flows through the intake hole 4241, the pilot hole 4242, the circular hole 4243 and the through hole 4202 in sequence, and then flows into the atomizer 300.
The intake hole 4241 is defined at one side of the support base 424, away from the valve gland 420. The intake hole 4241 is configured to enable the air outside to flow into the support base 424. The shape of the intake hole 4241 can be circular, square or other irregular shapes. The shape of the intake hole 4241 is circular in the present embodiment. The pilot hole 4242 is extended and radially enlarged from the intake hole 4241 to one side that is close to the valve gland 420. That is to say, the pilot hole 4242 is a tapered hole approximately, and the pilot hole 4242 is gradually widened and extends to one side that is close to the valve gland 420 to achieve a purpose of leading the floating sphere 422 moving up and down, so that the floating sphere 422 movably abutted against the intake hole 4241 under the guidance of the pilot hole 4242 to seal up or open the intake hole 4241. Specifically, the pilot hole 4242 is configured to lead the floating sphere 422 moving up and down. That is to say, the pilot hole 4242 is configured to lead the floating sphere 422 moving towards the circular hole 4243 or the intake hole 4241. When smoking at the mouthpiece 200, the floating sphere 422 can move up under the action of suction, and the floating sphere 422 moves away from the intake hole 4241 to make the air outside flow into the valve gland 420 via the intake hole 4241. That is to say, the pressure regulating valve unit 400 is open and air outside flows through the intake hole 4241, the pilot hole 4242, the circular hole 4243 and the through hole 4202 in sequence, and then flows into the atomizer 300. When users are not smoking or blowing into the electronic cigarette at the mouthpiece 200, the pilot hole 4242 is configured to lead the floating sphere 422 moving down to close the pressure regulating valve unit 400 via the floating sphere 422 sealed in the intake hole 4241, so that air outside cannot flow into the atomizer 300. Moreover, it is able to avoid the tobacco oil that has not been atomized in the atomizer 300 flowing to the cigarette rod 100.
The circular hole 4243 is circular and extends from the pilot hole 4242 to one side that is away from the intake hole 4241. The circular hole 4243 is connected to the through hole 4202 defined at the top end of the valve gland 420, so that air outside can flow into the atomizer 300 via the through hole 4202. It is understandable that the circular hole 4243 is not essential to the present embodiment. The pilot hole 4242 may extend straightly to one side that is close to the valve gland 420 to form a tapered hole.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a support part 425 and at least two transition parts 423 are defined on an inner wall of the support base 424. The support part 425 is defined at one side of the support base 424, away from the valve gland 420. The support part is sleeved in the support base 424. One end of the support part 425 is coplanar with one end of the support base 424, away from the valve gland 420. The intake hole 4241 is defined in the center of the support part 425 and axially runs through the whole support part 425. The transition part 423 extends from the intake hole 4241 to one side that is close to the valve gland 420. The at least two transition parts 423 are evenly spaced on the side wall of the support base 424. Each transition part 423 is a conic surface that is gradually widened and extends from the intake hole 4241 to one side that is close to the valve gland 420. The at least two transition parts 423 in the present embodiment are enclosed to form the pilot hole 4242.
The floating sphere 422 is configured to close or open the airflow path based on an airflow direction inside the electronic cigarette and a pressure difference between the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette, which makes the holding cavity 102 be isolated from or be connected to the smoke cavity 302, and then it is able to adjust airflow rate flowing into the electronic cigarette. Specifically, the air inside the electronic cigarette flows towards the mouthpiece 200 when users are smoking at the mouthpiece 200. The pressure inside the electronic cigarette is lower than the atmospheric pressure outside at this moment. The floating sphere 422 is open under a pressure difference between the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette, i.e. the floating sphere 422 moves up under the pressure difference to open the intake hole 4241, to enable the air outside to flow into the airflow path. The pressure difference between the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette varies with users' suction force at the mouthpiece 200 when smoking, and an opening degree of the floating sphere 422 varies with the pressure difference the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette, which enables the adjustment to the flow rate of the air outside flowing into the airflow path. When suction force of users is large, the pressure difference is large and the upwardly moving distance of the floating sphere 422 is hence large, so that the floating sphere 422 is completely separated from the intake hole 4241 and moves towards the pilot hole 4242. The pressure regulating valve unit 400 is completely open at this moment and the holding cavity 102 is connected to the smoke cavity 302. The airflow rate flowing from the outside to the airflow path via the intake hole 4241 is maximum so that it can produce more smoke for users and improve the experience of users. When suction force of users is small, the pressure difference is small and the upwardly moving distance of the floating sphere 422 is hence small. The airflow rate flowing from into the airflow path is small so that it can produce less smoke and help users quit smoking. When blowing into the electronic cigarette from the mouthpiece 200, air inside the electronic cigarette flows in a direction that is away from the mouthpiece 200. The pressure inside the electronic cigarette is higher than the atmospheric pressure outside at this moment. The floating sphere 422 moves down along the pilot hole 4242 and is finally clamped in the intake hole 4241 so that the airflow path is sealed up and the holding cavity 102 is isolated from the smoke cavity 302. It can avoid the tobacco oil that has not been atomized in the atomizer 300 flowing to the battery 104 inside the cigarette rod 100, and it can avoid the battery 104 being damaged when users blows into the electronic cigarette by mistake and prolong the lifetime of the battery.
The floating sphere 422 can be defined in a hollow spherical shape. The weight of the floating sphere 422 should not be too heavy, otherwise the floating sphere 422 cannot be sucked up. The size of a floating sphere 422 is preferable that the floating sphere 422 is clamped inside of the support base 424 and can seal up the intake hole 4241. The location of the through hole 4202 defined in the support base 424 is corresponding to that of the floating sphere 422. The centerline of the floating sphere 422 and the centerline of the intake hole 4241 are coaxially arranged. A diameter of the floating sphere is larger than a diameter of the intake hole 4241, so that the floating sphere is clamped at a connection between the intake hole 4241 and the pilot hole 4242 to seal up the intake hole 4241. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the floating sphere 422 can be a steel ball, glass ball, ceramic ball or plastic ball. The floating sphere 422 can also be a small ball with elasticity and the like, and it is not limited here.
The sealing part 426 is also in a hollow cylindrical structure. A diameter of the sealing part 426 is larger than a diameter of the support base 424. The size of a sealing part 426 is preferable that the support base 424 is accommodated inside the sealing part 426 exactly. One end of the sealing part 426 is abutted against one end of the valve gland 420, which means that the diameter of the sealing part 426 is equal to the diameter of the valve gland 420. Two ends of the sealing part 426 are open ends, wherein, one open end defined at the bottom of sealing part 426 is an inlet for the air outside. The open end defined at the bottom of sealing part 426 is connected to the intake hole 4241 correspondingly, so that the air outside flows into the intake hole 4241 via the open end defined at the bottom of the sealing part 426, and then flows through the pilot hole 4242, the circular hole 4243 and the through hole 4202 in sequence, and finally flows into the atomizer 300.
Specifically, in the present embodiment, when assembling the pressure regulating valve unit 400, the support base 424 is arranged in the hollow portion of the sealing part 426 to correspond the open end defined at the bottom of sealing part 426 to the intake hole 4241 defined in the support base 424; then the floating sphere 422 is clamped inside the support base 424 to seal up the intake hole 4241; lastly, the gland 420 is sheathed outside the support base 424 and abutted against the sealing part 426 to complete the assembly of the pressure regulating valve unit 400.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of an airflow direction (arrows indicate the airflow direction) of the air outside when the electronic cigarette is in smoking state, and the electronic cigarette includes a pressure regulating valve unit 400 with the floating sphere 422. Specifically, in the present embodiment, if users suck at the mouthpiece 200 when smoking, the floating sphere 422 will be sucked upwardly under the action of suction to open the intake hole 4241, so that the air outside flows through the open end defined at the bottom of sealing part 426, the intake hole 4241 defined inside the support base 424, the pilot hole 4242, the circular hole 4243 and the through hole 4202 defined in the valve gland 420 in sequence, and then flows into the atomizer 300. The atomized smoke in the atomizer 300 will be driving by the air to flow into the mouthpiece 200 for smoking.
The electronic cigarette of the present application is capable of adjusting the amount of the smoke by changing the suction force when smoking. Specifically, when smoking forcibly at the mouthpiece 200, the upwardly moving distance of the floating sphere 422 is large due to a large suction force, and the airflow rate flowing into the pressure regulating valve unit 400 via the intake hole 4241 of the support base 424 is hence large, so that the airflow rate inside the atomizer 300 is large. Therefore, the amount of smoke that has been driven by the air outside and flows to the mouthpiece 200 is large. Thus, it is able to increase the amount of smoke and meet the needs of users. And when the suction force at the mouthpiece 200 is small, the upwardly moving distance of the floating sphere 422 is small, so that the airflow rate inside the atomizer 300 is small and the amount of smoke is also small as a result. Therefore, when smoking, it is able to adjust the amount of the smoke by changing the suction force to control the upwardly moving distance of the floating sphere 422, and then it is able to change tastes of smoking and meet different needs of users. Furthermore, because the floating sphere 422 scrolls up and down under the action of the airflow, the floating sphere 422 will knock the inner wall of the support base 424 with a gurgling sound to simulate the gurgling sound of a hookah, which improves the experience of users. Moreover, it is able to adjust the tastes of smoking by changing the weight and the size of the floating sphere 422. It will need larger suction force to make the floating sphere 422 be sucked up when the weight of the floating sphere 422 is large. The floating sphere 422 will not be sucked up if the suction force is small, so as to fail in smoking.
In addition, when there is no suction at the mouthpiece 200, the floating sphere 422 will move downwardly along the pilot hole 4242 and fall back into the intake hole 4241 to seal up the intake hole 4241, so that the air outside cannot flow into the atomizer 300. It is able to avoid the tobacco oil inside the atomizer 300 leaking into the battery 104 of the cigarette rod 100. It is able to avoid the tobacco oil leaking out and the lifetime of the battery 104 is hence prolonged. Meanwhile, if users accidentally blowing into the electronic cigarette at the mouthpiece 200, floating sphere 422 will move downwardly along the pilot hole 4242 and fall back into the intake hole 4241 to seal up the intake hole 4241 as the blowing airflow direction is opposite to the intake direction of the pressure regulating valve unit 400. The tobacco oil inside the atomizer 300 is blocked by the floating sphere 422 and will not flow into the cigarette rod 100, which avoids the battery and circuits connected to the battery being damaged by the tobacco oil and prolongs the lifetime of the electronic cigarette.
The present application further provides a method of adjusting airflow rate of the electronic cigarette, and the method can be realized by the electronic cigarette described above. Specifically, the method comprises the following steps:
S1: blowing or sucking from one end of the atomizer 300, and making the floating sphere 422 of the pressure regulating valve unit 400 arranged in the airflow path open or close the airflow path according to a blowing airflow direction or a sucking airflow direction, thus adjusting the airflow rate flowing into the airflow path.
Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the electronic cigarette 10 in the present application comprises a cigarette rod 100 with a battery 104, a mouthpiece 200, an atomizer 300, a pressure regulating valve unit 400, a first bracket 500 and a second bracket 600. The cigarette rod 100, the first bracket 500, the pressure regulating valve unit 400, the second bracket 600, the atomizer 300 and the mouthpiece 200 are connected in turn to cooperatively form the electronic cigarette. Wherein, the atomizer 300 containing tobacco oil is configured to atomize the tobacco oil and produce smoke. The battery 104 inside the cigarette rod 100 is configured to power the atomizer 300 to heat and atomize the tobacco oil, and the atomized tobacco oil becomes smoke that is then discharged via the mouthpiece 200 and sucked by the user.
The mouthpiece 200 is arranged at an end of the atomizer 300, away from the cigarette rod 100. That is to say, the cigarette rod 100 and the mouthpiece 200 are arranged at two ends of the atomizer 300 respectively. A holding cavity 102 is defined inside the cigarette rod 100. The battery 104 is accommodated in the holding cavity 102. A smoke cavity 302 is defined inside the atomizer 300. The tobacco oil is contained in the smoke cavity 302. The holding cavity 102 and the smoke cavity 302 are connected to each other and cooperatively form an airflow path. The airflow path is configured to enable the airflow of the electronic cigarette circulate and to enable the air outside to flow into the atomizer 300, so that the smoke produced by atomizing the tobacco oil will flow into the mouthpiece 200 for users' smoking.
The pressure regulating valve unit 400 is arranged in the airflow path, and the pressure regulating valve unit 400 is configured to adjust a flow rate of the outside air flowing into the electronic cigarette. That is to say, the pressure regulating valve unit 400 can be arranged in the holding cavity 102, in the smoke cavity 302, or between the holding cavity 102 and the smoke cavity 302. The pressure regulating valve unit 400 configured to adjust the airflow rate flowing into the electronic cigarette, comprises a valve gland 420, a floating sphere 422, a support base 424 and a sealing part 426. The floating sphere 422 is movably clamped inside the support base 424. The sealing part 426 is abutted against the valve gland 420 via the support base 424.
The valve gland 420 is in a hollow cylindrical structure approximately and is open at one end, and a through hole 4202 is defined at the other end of the valve gland 420. The through hole 4202 is configured to enable the air outside to flow into the atomizer 300. An intake hole 4241, a pilot hole 4242 and a circular hole 4243 are formed inside the support base 424 and are connected to each other, so that an approximate stepped through hole is formed inside the support base 424. The intake hole 4241 is defined at one side of the support base 424, away from the valve gland 420. The intake hole 4241 is configured to enable the air outside to flow into the support base 424. The pilot hole 4242 is extended and radially enlarged from the intake hole 4241 to one side that is close to the valve gland 420. That is to say, the pilot hole 4242 is a tapered hole approximately, and the pilot hole 4242 is gradually widened and extends to one side that is close to the valve gland 420 to achieve a purpose of leading the floating sphere 422 moving up and down. The circular hole 4243 is circular and extends from the pilot hole 4242 to one side that is away from the intake hole 4241. The circular hole 4243 is connected to the through hole 4202 defined at the top end of the valve gland 420 so that the air outside can flow into the atomizer 300 via the through hole 4202.
When sucking or blowing into the electronic cigarette at the mouthpiece 200, the floating sphere 422 is configured to open or close the airflow path accordingly to the blowing airflow direction or sucking airflow direction, thus it is able to adjust the airflow rate flowing into the electronic cigarette. In the present embodiment, step S1 comprises two sub-steps:
S11: sucking at the mouthpiece 200 and generating airflow flowing towards the mouthpiece to make a pressure inside the electronic cigarette lower than the atmospheric pressure outside, and an opening degree of the floating sphere 422 varies with a pressure difference between the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette to adjust the airflow rate flowing into the airflow path;
S12: blowing at the mouthpiece 200 and generating airflow flowing backwards the mouthpiece 200 to make the pressure inside the electronic cigarette higher than the pressure outside, and the airflow path is sealed up by the floating sphere 422 to avoid tobacco oil inside the atomizer 300 flowing to the battery 104 inside the cigarette rod 100.
In the step S11, when users are smoking at the mouthpiece 200, the air inside the electronic cigarette flows towards the mouthpiece 200. The pressure inside the electronic cigarette is lower than the atmospheric pressure outside at this moment. The floating sphere 422 is configured to close or open the intake hole 4241 under the pressure difference between the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette. That is to say, the floating sphere 422 moves up by the pressure difference, which will make the intake hole 4241 open to enable the air outside to flow into the airflow path. The pressure difference between the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette varies with users' suction force at the mouthpiece 200 when smoking, and an opening degree of the floating sphere 422 varies with the pressure difference the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette, which enables the adjustment to the flow rate of the air outside flowing into the airflow path.
In the step S12, when blowing into the electronic cigarette from the mouthpiece 200, the air inside the electronic cigarette flows in a direction that is away from the mouthpiece 200. The pressure inside the electronic cigarette is higher than the atmospheric pressure outside at this moment. The floating sphere 422 moves down along the pilot hole 4242 and is finally clamped in the intake hole 4241 so that the airflow path is sealed up and the holding cavity 102 is isolated from the smoke cavity 302. It can avoid the tobacco oil that has not been atomized in the atomizer 300 flowing to the battery 104 inside the cigarette rod 100, and it can avoid the battery 104 being damaged when users blows into the electronic cigarette by mistake and prolong the lifetime of the battery.
In conclusion, in the electronic cigarette and the method for adjusting airflow rate of the electronic cigarette of the present application, by means of arranging a pressure regulating valve unit 400 in the airflow path, it is able to control the airflow rate flowing into the atomizer 300, further to adjust the amount of smoke sucked, to change tastes of smoking and meet different needs of users. Further, when blowing to the electronic cigarette, as the pressure regulating valve unit 400 is in a closed state, it is able to avoid tobacco oil inside the atomizer 300 flowing to the battery 104 and a control board, thus prolonging the lifetime of the electronic cigarette. Furthermore, the adjusting method is easy to complete, and there is no need to operate manually. The airflow rate flowing into the electronic cigarette can be adjusted just by controlling the suction force, and the amount of smoke sucked by the user is hence adjusted.
The embodiments of the present application have been described accompanying with the drawings, while the present application is not limit to the aforementioned specific embodiments. The specific embodiments are merely a hint rather than a limit. Various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the purpose of the application and the scope of the claims by those skilled in the art under the teaching of the present application, but all the changes and equivalents will be included within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An electronic cigarette, comprising a cigarette rod with a battery, an atomizer configured to atomize tobacco oil contained therein, and an airflow path configured to enable the air to flow into the atomizer, wherein, a pressure regulating valve unit is arranged in the airflow path, and the pressure regulating valve unit includes a floating sphere configured to close or open the airflow path according to an airflow direction and to adjust an airflow rate flowing into the airflow path.

2. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein, the electronic cigarette further comprises a mouthpiece arranged at one side of the atomizer and the side of the atomizer is away from the cigarette rod, the air flows towards the mouthpiece when smoking, a pressure inside the electronic cigarette is lower than the atmospheric pressure outside, and an opening degree of the floating sphere varies with a pressure difference between the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette to adjust the airflow rate flowing into the airflow path; the air flows backwards the mouthpiece when blowing into the electronic cigarette from the mouthpiece, the pressure inside the electronic cigarette is lower than the atmospheric pressure outside, and the airflow path is sealed up by the floating sphere to avoid the tobacco oil inside the atomizer flowing to the battery of the cigarette rod.

3. The electronic cigarette of claim 2, wherein, a holding cavity is defined inside the cigarette rod and the battery is accommodated in the holding cavity, a smoke cavity is defined inside the atomizer and the tobacco oil is contained in the smoke cavity, and the holding cavity and the smoke cavity are connected to form the airflow path; and the floating sphere open or close the airflow path according to the airflow direction in the electronic cigarette and the pressure difference between the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette, so that the holding cavity and the smoke cavity are correspondingly communicated or isolated.

4. The electronic cigarette of claim 3, wherein, the pressure regulating valve unit is arranged between the cigarette rod and the atomizer, the electronic cigarette further comprises a first bracket and a second bracket, one end of the pressure regulating valve unit is adapted to and fixed on the first bracket, and the other end of the pressure regulating valve unit is adapted to and fixed on the second bracket.

5. The electronic cigarette of claim 3, wherein, the pressure regulating valve unit includes a valve gland and a support base; a through hole is defined at the top of the valve gland; the two ends of the support base are open ends, a plurality of protrusions are spaced on an inner wall of the support base, and the floating sphere is movably clamped in the protrusions defined on the inner wall of the support base.

6. The electronic cigarette of claim 3, wherein, the pressure regulating valve unit further includes a valve gland and a support base; a through hole is defined at the top of the valve gland; an intake hole configured to enable the air outside to flow in and a pilot hole communicated with the intake hole are formed inside the support base, the pilot hole is extended and radially enlarged from the intake hole to one side that is close to the valve gland, and the floating sphere is movably abutted against the intake hole under the guidance of the pilot hole to seal up or open the airflow path.

7. The electronic cigarette of claim 6, wherein, a circular hole is formed inside the support base, the circular hole extends from the pilot hole to one side that is away from the intake hole, and the intake hole, the pilot hole and the circular hole are arranged with the same axis.

8. The electronic cigarette of claim 7, wherein, a centerline of the floating sphere and that of the intake hole are coaxially arranged, and a diameter of the floating sphere is larger than a diameter of the intake hole.

9. The electronic cigarette of claim 8, wherein, the floating sphere is clamped at a connection between the intake hole and the pilot hole to seal up the intake hole.

10. The electronic cigarette of claim 6, wherein, a support part and at least two transition parts are defined on an inner wall of the support base, the intake hole is defined in the center of the support part, the at least two transition parts extend along the intake hole and are evenly spaced, and the at least two transition parts are enclosed to form the pilot hole.

11. The electronic cigarette of claim 6, wherein, the pressure regulating valve unit further includes a sealing part, two ends of the sealing part are open ends and the sealing part is abutted against the valve gland.

12. The electronic cigarette of claim 11, wherein, one open end at the bottom of the sealing part is connected to the intake hole of the support base to enable the air outside to flow into the intake hole via the open end at the bottom of the sealing part.

13. The electronic cigarette of claim 6, wherein, when blowing into the electronic cigarette from the mouthpiece, the floating sphere is sealed up in the intake hole under the guidance of the pilot hole to make the holding cavity and the smoke cavity isolate from each other, thus avoiding the tobacco oil flowing to the battery of the cigarette rod.

14. The electronic cigarette of claim 1, wherein, the floating sphere is a steel ball, a glass ball, a ceramic ball or a plastic ball.

15. A method for adjusting flow rate of gas flow of an electronic cigarette, wherein the electronic cigarette comprises a cigarette rod with a battery, an atomizer configured to atomize tobacco oil contained therein, and an airflow path configured to enable the air to flow into the atomizer; the method comprises the following steps:

S1: blowing or sucking from one end of the atomizer, and making a floating sphere of a pressure regulating valve unit arranged in the airflow path open or close the airflow path according to a blowing airflow direction or a sucking airflow direction, thus adjusting the flow rate flowing into the airflow path.

16. The method for adjusting flow rate of gas flow of the electronic cigarette of claim 15, wherein, the electronic cigarette comprises a mouthpiece arranged at one side of the atomizer and the side of the atomizer is away from the cigarette rod; the step S1 comprises the following steps:

S11: sucking from the mouthpiece and generating airflow flowing towards the mouthpiece to make a pressure inside the electronic cigarette lower than the atmospheric pressure outside, and an opening degree of the floating sphere varies with a pressure difference between the pressures inside and outside the electronic cigarette to adjust the flow rate flowing into the airflow path;

S12: blowing at the mouthpiece and generating airflow flowing backwards the mouthpiece to make a pressure inside the electronic cigarette higher than the atmospheric pressure outside, and the airflow path is sealed up by the floating sphere to avoid tobacco oil inside the atomizer flowing to the battery inside the cigarette rod.