WO2022106541A1

WO2022106541A1 - Electronic smoking device with liquid reservoir

Info

Publication number: WO2022106541A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/082146
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alec WRIGHT; Kyle ADAIR; Andrew Robert John ROGAN; Gordon MONTGOMERY
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2020-11-18
Filing date: 2021-11-18
Publication date: 2022-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-18

Abstract

1. Electronic smoking device (1) comprising a first compartment (2), a vapor generating device (22) for generating vapor a second compartment (4) comprising a liquid storage tank (42) arranged at least partially inside the second compartment, wherein the second compartment (4) is releasably attachable to the first compartment (2) and comprises at least one duct (24) for channeling a liquid arranged inside the liquid storage tank (42) to the vapor generating device. According to the invention upon attaching the second compartment (4) to the first compartment (2) liquid is urged from the tank to the vapor generating device through the duct (24).

Description

Electronic smoking device with liquid reservoir

Description

The present invention is in directed to an electronic smoking device and in particular to a vaporizing unit for an electronic smoking device and/or an electronic cigarette.

The term electronic cigarette or e-cigarette is usually applied to handheld electronic devices that simulate the feeling or experience of smoking tobacco with a traditional cigarette.

These e-cigarettes comprise an aerosol generating liquid to generate a vapor that cools and condenses to form an aerosol which is than inhaled by the user. The invention is especially directed to a MEMS (micro electro mechanical system) style device. In the state of the art, a priming is required for the MEMS devices since the die which produces the vapor is located within a device and the fluid is located in a capsule (or cartridge). A back pressure may be required to force the liquid from the capsule through any fluidic connections and to the die. . It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and a device that requires the user to generate this back pressure in a simple and especially intuitive manner. Preferably the device may require a priming at any given time but especially after a change of the capsule and/or of the reservoir.

The above - mentioned requirement is met by the object of claim 1 . Preferred embodiments are objects of the subclaims. An electronic smoking device according to the invention comprises a first compartment comprising a vapor generating device for generating a vapor. Furthermore the device comprises a second compartment comprising a liquid storage tank arranged at least partially (and preferably completely) in the second compartment. Thereby the second compartment is releasably attachable to the first compartment. The electronic smoking device further comprises at least one duct or conduit for transporting and especially channeling a liquid arranged inside the liquid storage tank to the vapor generating device.

According to the invention, upon attaching the second compartment to the first compartment liquid is urged from the tank to the vapor generating device through the duct. In a preferred embodiment the vapor generating device comprises a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS).

The vapor generating device is preferably a liquid jet device. The liquid jet device preferably comprises at least one die for producing a jet and the micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS).

It is therefore preferably suggested that the electronic smoking device comprises an urging means, which urges the liquid from the tank to the vapor generating device. An urging means is to be understood especially a device which creates a flow of a flowable medium and especially a liquid. Especially this urging device can create this flow in response to a volume change of the urging device.

Preferably upon attaching the second compartment to the first attachment a priming is carried out, which transports the liquid to the desired destination and especially to the vapor generating device.

Preferably, the urging means is given by the design of the above-mentioned storage tank.

In a preferred embodiment, after the duct a filter is provided. Preferably upon attaching the second compartment to the first compartment a back pressure is created. As a result of the backpressure created, liquid flows from the tank to the vapor generating device, in particular to the micro electro-mechanical system. Preferably, the filter is fluidically positioned between the vapor generating device and the duct. When inserting the second compartment (for example the capsules ) into the device a force will be exerted. This force could be a simple push, a twisting motion of the capsule or a twist and click motion such as in a bayonet fitting. Also combinations of this motions could be used. Preferably this motion will serve to reach two purposes. On one hand it assures that there is a good sealing between the capsule and the device and on the other hand a squeeze is applied to the tank i.e. the fluidic tank in the capsule which applies pressure to the liquid and forces it through its fluid path towards the die (and therefor a priming is reached). The motion may serve an additional purpose of opening the tank to establish liquid communication to the duct, e.g., by perforation of a septum or seal of the capsule.

In a preferred embodiment, upon attaching the second compartment to the first compartment the vapor generating device is primed and especially the vapor generating device is primed by the liquid. In particular, priming may require the duct to be entirely filled with liquid.

In another preferred embodiment, the tank has at least one changeable and/or flexible wall section wherein this flexible or changeable wall section spatially limits the liquid inside the tank. A flexible wall section is understood to mean any structure which changes a geometrical shape especially for a volume reduction. In a preferred embodiment the changeable or flexible wall section is selected from a group of wall sections which comprise twistable wall sections, accordion like or concertina like wall sections, wall sections which are moveable with respect to each other as for example telescopic wall subsections and the like. Furthermore an extension device or pusher as for example a protrusion, e.g. a finger, may be provided on the first compartment which deforms the tank when the second compartment is attached to the first compartment and thereby urges the liquid especially out of the tank. Preferably the tank is deformable.

In another preferred embodiment, a volume of the tank is decreasable. By decreasing the volume of the tank preferably the liquid is urged out of the tank and eventually leads to a priming of the generation device.

In another preferred embodiment, the first and second compartments comprise an attachment which is configured when connected to apply an internal pressure on at least one part of the tank so as to urge liquid to the vapor generator. For example, the attachment may comprise the extension device (or pusher) such as a protrusion and the like. This attachment might be chosen out of a group of attachment (devices) which contains attachments as threads or bayonet connections.

In a preferred embodiment, the volume of the tank is decreasable upon attaching the second compartment to the first compartment. Preferably the tank is decreasable by at least 1% of its volume preferably at least 2% of its volume, preferably 4% of its volume and preferably at least 5% of its volume. Preferably the tank is decreasable by at the most 40% of its volume preferably at the most 20% of its volume preferably at the most 15% of its volume and preferably at the most 10% of its volume.

In another preferred embodiment, the attachment is configured such to the first compartment is rotatable with respect to the first compartment for attaching the second compartment to the first compartment. Therefore for example a bayonet device might be included or comprised. Preferably, the attachment is configured such that the first compartment is both rotatable and slidable with respect to the first compartment. The attachment may be configured to provide a relative helicoidal motion between the first and second compartments. The volume of the tank may so be decreased as a result of the relative motion of the attachment.

In another preferred embodiment, the electric smoking device has a connector for establishing a fluid connection between the tank and the duct upon attaching the second compartment to the first compartment.

In another preferred embodiment, the connector comprises a sealing means for a sealing the fluid connection between the storage tank and the duct. Preferably the sealing means prevents that fluid can leak out in the area of the connection. The sealing element can be opened upon attaching the second compartment to the first compartment. The sealing means may be a sealing foil or a septum that may be pierced or broken by the connecting element of the second compartment. The sealing foil or septum is preferably a connector part of the storage tank. It preferably seals an outlet of the tank.

The connector may further comprise a piercing element, such as a hollow needle, configured to pierce the sealing foil or septum during connection. The piercing element is preferably supported on the connector part of the duct. In another preferred embodiment, the connector comprises a foam element and especially a foam wick. In another preferred embodiment the tank has a rotational symmetric cross section with respect to a longitudinal direction of the second compartment. Thereby this rotational symmetric section can be for example an annular section of the reservoir with a central channel. This central channel may also comprise a (symmetry defining) rotational axis.

In another preferred embodiment, the electronic smoking device comprises at least one force gauge configured especially at the connection to determine the force exerted to connect the storage tank to the duct. Therefore it is an additional functionality to use a force gauge to determine the force exerted to insert the second compartment, i. e. the capsule. A first force will be required for a new capsule to break the sealing foil. The force measured by the force gauge determines if the capsule is new or not would and allows the device to know what level of priming is required. Therefore a control device is also preferably provided, which takes into account the force values measured by the force gauge.

In another preferred embodiment, the electronic smoking device comprises a second and/or auxiliary priming device. In cases in which for any reason upon connecting the first and the second compartment a sufficient priming does not occur, the user can additionally prime the device by the auxiliary priming device.

The level of priming may be adjusted in response to the input of the pressure gauge, e.g. resulting from the piercing of the sealing element. The adjustment of the level of priming may be carried out by electro-mechanical means enabling to vary the volume decrease of the tank. For example, the electro-mechanical means may be configured to change the configuration of the attachment, e.g., of the relative position of the first and second compartments or the relative position of the extension device or pusher, e.g., of the finger. For example, the electro-mechanical may comprise a solenoid to change the positions of these means.

In most MEMs devices that also fire fluid from a liquid reservoir the die is a part of the consumable. Therefore, the priming can be carried out at the factory. In case of the invention the die and the consumable are preferably separate and therefore the priming is required to be carried out by the user. Preferably the priming is carried out with the new capsule being located into the device which is also required to be undertaken by the user. Preferably as described above an additional functionality is added.

In a preferred embodiment, a manual insertion force to insert the capsule into the device is also used to compress the fluid reservoir and at the tank to provide that back pressure to the liquid especially to perform a priming.

In another embodiment, the electronic smoking device comprises a control unit configured to operate a function and/or prompt the user to operate a priming step, in response to the level of the force detected by the force gauge.

It is also possible that the user has to manually prime the device with an external tool. The level of priming implemented with this tool is informed to the user especially by using data acquired from the above-mentioned pressure gauge.

If the pressure is high that means that the tank is a new one because the pressure may be characteristic of a pierced seal at the connection.

In another preferred embodiment the force gauge determines the force exerted to insert the tank. Especially a force is determined which arises upon connection.

In another preferred embodiment the first compartment and the second compartment are attachable to each other via a compartment attachment wherein this compartment connection comprises a thread or a bayonet coupling.

In another preferred embodiment the vapor generator comprises at least one vaporizing die fluidly connected to the duct. As mentioned above the die and the liquid tank are preferably separated, which in this embodiment requires a priming. Therefore, the invention describes especially a device comprising a die of a MEMS device.

In another preferred embodiment the electronical smoking device comprises a second duct for channeling a liquid arranged inside the liquid storage tank to the vapor generating device and/or to the above-mentioned die. In another preferred embodiment the tank comprises a sealing element which can be opened upon attaching the second compartment to the first compartment. This sealing element can be for example a foil or septum covering an opening of the tank.

In another preferred embodiment the second compartment can be rotated around a predetermined rotation axis to be attached to the first compartment. Especially this axis is a symmetry axis. In another preferred embodiment this axis extends in a longitudinal direction of the device.

In a preferred embodiment a thread can be arranged on both compartments and/or on both the capsule (i.e. one compartment) and aerosol generation device. Preferably this thread is designed in such a way that once the rotation is completed the respective connection devices are connected. This can be achieved by having a coarse thread over a short distance to allow for such alignment.

Further embodiments of the invention will become appearing by the following drawings. Therein show:

Fig. 1 : An embodiment of the invention where the two compartments are not attached to each other.

Fig. 2: The device of figure 1 the two compartments are attached to each other.

Fig. 3a-3c: Three drawings to describe the function of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a smoking device 1 according to the invention. This smoking device 1 has a first compartment 2 and a second compartment 4 which can be attached to each other. The second compartment 4 comprises a tank 42 with the liquid which is used for the smoking device. The second compartment 4 can be rotated around the symmetry axis S as shown with arrow P1 to be attached to the first compartment 2. Therefore, the first and second compartments can comprise threads (not shown).

Reference number 48 is directed to a mouth piece which is part of the second compartment 4. Reference number 44 is directed to a connecting device to establish a fluid connection between the tank 42 and the devices inside the first compartment 2. Reference number 46 is directed to a sealing element which can be used to seal the connection between the connection device 44 and the connecting element 26.

Reference number 58 refers to a bottom of the smoking device and reference number 56 to a controlling device comprising preferably a USB connection for connecting the smoking device for example to an electric power source.

Reference number 26 refers to connector part of the duct or device that may comprise a foam wick which serves to establish the connection with the tank 42.

Reference 24 refers to a channel or a tube which leads from the foam wicks 26 to a filter element 32 and downstream via a channel 25 to the die element which is also the vapor generating device 22. The device 22 may be a micro-electronic-mechanical-system (MEMS) type vapor generating device. The MEMS type vapor device may be a thermal jet or piezoelectric jet device.

The connector part of the tank may comprise a sealing foil or septum for sealing an outlet of the tank. The connector part 26 of the device or duct may comprise a piercing element, e.g., a hollow needle, to perforate the septum and allow liquid communication from the tank 42 to the duct 24.

The MEMS type vapor device preferably comprises a heater to heat liquid on a vaporization chamber of the device until the liquid starts to boil and forms a gas bubble. Air from an air inlet in the chamber may be entrained with liquid to form gas bubble. The gas bubble forces liquid droplets through a microfluidic die. As liquid droplets are ejected from the microfluidic die, this creates a vacuum which causes more liquid to be drawn into the vapor generating device 22 from the channel or tube. However, at the start of the vaporization process, backpressure may be required to force the liquid from the tank through the fluidic connections (i.e., duct) and to the die.

Reference 31 refers to a connector and reference number 33 to a carrier element.

Reference number 52 refers to a housing element of the second compartment 4. Reference numeral 28 refers to a second duct also leading from the tank 42 to the vapor generating device 22. Reference numeral 29 refers to a carrier to carry the filter 32 and the vapor generating device 22 inside the compartment 2. Reference numeral 35 refers to a connector which connects the vapor generating device to the controlling device 56. There is also a battery 57 generally connected to the device.

Figure 2 shows the smoking device in a connected state. By screwing in the second compartment 4 forming an exchangeable cartridge, the fluid tanks 42 are compressed applying pressure to the fluid which is then forced through the liquid channels 24 to the filter and as well to the die (i.e., the vapor generation device) to prime the device.

Figure 3a-3c show three positions of the device. For a capsule or a tank 42 to be pushed into a receiving device it may be rotated for example by 90° and then be released. As the tank 42 is pushed towards the first compartment 2 it also approaches a tube 25. Reference number 41 is directed to a sealing element which seals the tank. As can be seen in figure 3b the tube 25 touches the sealing element 41 and eventually as shown in figure 3c perforates it so that the vapor can reach (arrows P3) the mouthpiece and can such be inhaled by the consumer.

In particular, Fig. 3a shows a first compartment (or capsule) in initial engagement to the second compartment. Fig. 3b shows the capsule in sliding engagement (before rotational movement) in the second compartment but before rupture of the capsule’s seal. Fig. 3c shows the capsule having been rotated at 90° and being attached to the second compartment of the device (the seal being broken).

Again as the tank 42 is inserted, the fluidic tank is compressed and the back pressure is applied.

Claims

Claims Electronic smoking device (1) comprising a first compartment (2), a vapor generating device (22) for generating vapor a second compartment (4) comprising a liquid storage tank (42) arranged at least partially inside the second compartment, wherein the second compartment (4) is releasably attachable to the first compartment (2) and comprises at least one duct (24) for channeling a liquid arranged inside the liquid storage tank (42) to the vapor generating device, characterized in that upon attaching the second compartment (4) to the first compartment (2) liquid is urged from the tank to the vapor generating device through the duct (24), wherein the first and second compartments comprise an attachment which is configured when connected to apply an internal pressure on at least one part of the tank so to urge liquid to the vapor generating device. Electronic smoking device (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the tank (42) has at least one changeable or flexible wall section is selected from a group of wall sections which comprise twistable wall sections, accordion like or concertina like wall sections, wall sections which are moveable with respect to each other and wherein the wall section (44) especially limits the liquid inside the tank. Electronic smoking device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a volume of the tank (42) is decreasable. Electronic smoking device (1 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the volume of the tank (42) is decreasable upon attaching the second compartment to the first compartment (2). Electronic smoking device (1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the attachment is configured such that the second compartment (4) is rotatable with respect to the first compartment (2) for attaching the second compartment (4) to the first compartment (2). Electronic smoking device (1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic smoking device (2) has a connector (26, 46) for establishing a fluid connection between the tank and the duct upon attaching the second compartment to the first compartment. Electronic smoking device (1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that the connector (26, 46) comprises a sealing means for sealing the fluid connection between the storage tank (42) and the duct (24). Electronic smoking device (1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims 7 or

8, characterized in that the connector (26, 46) comprises a foam element and especially a foam wick. Electronic smoking device (1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims 7 to

9, characterized in that it comprises at least one force gauge configured at the connection to determine the force exerted to connect the storage tank to the duct. Electronic smoking device (1 ) according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a control unit configured to operate a function and/or prompt the user to operate a priming step, in response to the level of force detected by the force gauge. Electronic smoking device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first compartment (2) and the second compartment (4) are attachable to each other via a compartment attachment wherein this compartment connector comprises a thread or a bayonet coupling. Electronic smoking device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vapor generator comprises at least one vaporizing die fluidly connected to the duct. Electronic smoking device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic smoking device (1 ) comprises a second duct (28) for channeling a liquid arranged inside the liquid storage tank (42) to the vapor generating device. Electronic smoking device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank (42) comprises a sealing element which can be opened (e.g. pierced or broken) upon attaching the second compartment (4) to the first compartment (2).